Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Aspects Flashcards
What is intellectual property?
Inventions, artistic creations, processes, software, know-how and design.
What are some ways to protect Intellectual Property? (5)
-Patents
-Copyrights
-Registered Trademarks
-Registered Designs
-NDAs can be used to protect knowhow and trade secrets
What is a patent?
A form of intellectual property that gives the holder the right to exclude others from making, using, selling and importing an invention for a limited period of time. Has to be renewed each year at a cost and runs out after 20 years.
Brackets/Types of Laws and Penalties (3)
-Criminal law: prosecuted by police/government and can lead to custodial sentences.
-Civil action: legal cases brought by one party against another and can lead to fines/imposed conditions.
- Regulatory action: permissions to function within an industry can be accessed by regulatory bodies.
Which British Parlimentary act protects intellectual property?
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (1988)
What are standards?
Agreed-upon specifications or criteria that define the characteristics of a product, process or service.
Who sets standards? (7)
Various international organizations:
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
- ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)
- ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
- IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
- BSI (British Standards Institute)
- IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers)
- SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).
What do standards cover? (7)
materials
testing methods
safety standards
software standards
production standards
quality management systems
design of components/systems.
How are standards implemented?
Standards can be implemented within a design/manufacturing company or by an accredited testing/certification company. They can also be required by a certification authority.
What is the purpose of standards? (4)
Promote safe and reliable products and services
allow fair comparisons
help share best practice across sectors
help quantify environmental issues
Who sets legislation
National governments, regional governments, local governments, international organisations, sector regulators
Process of taking out a Patent
- Detailed search
- Submit filing (written description, drawings, claims, summary)
- File published after 18 months and examined over next 6 months
- Pay renewal fee every year if patent is granted
Copyright definition
Protection for “expression of an idea in material form” (written down material e.g. music, images, software)
Granted automatically if you can prove you’re the creator and it lasts 75 years
Trademark definition
Designs associated with a property or brand
More linked to marketing than function e.g. shapes, logos with some protection on words/colours
Registered Designs
More robust than Copyright and Trademarks, but applying to things that can’t be patented
Can include engineering designs, CAD drawings, circuits
