Legislation

Question 1

Give 5 ways of protecting interllectual property

Answer 1

• copyright
• design right
• patent
• trademarks
• registered design

Question 2

Give an overview of copyright

Answer 2

Covers: original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
Application: Applys automatically when a work is created
Duration: 70 years after authors death
Examples: Instruction manuals, packaging artwork, unique decorative patterns
Advantages
- automatic
- long-term protection
- applied to wide range of creative content
Disadvantages
- doesn’t protect functional or technical aspects of a product
- difficult to enforce globally

Question 3

Give an overview of patents

Answer 3

Covers: Inventions that are new, inventive and industrially applicable - new products, processes or methods
Application: Apply to national or international patent office
Duration: 20 years after application
Examples: New mechanism or advanced technology
Advantages
- exclusive right to make,sell or license invention
- protects technical features from others producing them
Disadvantages
- expensive + time consuming
- requires public disclosure of inventions details - can be copied after expirey
- difficult to enforce internationally

Question 4

Give an overview of design right

Answer 4

Covers: Shape and configuration of a product - 3D shape or 2D pattern
Application: Can be registered with patents office
Duration
- Registered: 25 years, must be renewed every 5 years
- Unregistered: 10 years from first sale
Examples: shape of a bottle, pattern on fabric
Advantages
- exclusive protection for visual design
- faster, cheaper than patents
Disadvantages
- only protects appearence
- registration must be renewed periodically

Question 5

Give an overview of trademarks

Answer 5

Covers: distinctive marks that identify and distinguish products or services
Application: Apply to interllectual property office
Duration: Last indefinitley, but needs to be renewed every 10 years
Examples: brand logos, names, slogans e.g. Coke, Nike
Advantages
- protects brand identity
- trademarked brands are valuable assets and can be licensed for commerical use
Disadvantages
- expensive, time consuming
- only protects brand identity and distinctiveness

Question 6

Give an overview of registered designs

Answer 6

Covers: Visual appearence of a product
Application: Submit representations to interllectual property office
Duration: Up to 25 years, renewed every 5 years
Examples: Visual design of bike handlebar, curved shape of electronic device
Advantages
- exclusive right over product’s visual appearence
- easier + quicker compared to patents
Disadvantages
- only portects aesthetic features
- requires renewal every 5 years

Question 7

What is standardisation?

Answer 7

Developing and implementing uniform technial specifications for products, materials and processes across industries and internationally to maintain consistency, quality and safety.

Question 8

Why is standardisation important?

Answer 8

• improves efficiency + lowers costs of production processes
• ensures quality control
• promotes safety
• facilitates trade
• enahcnes consumer confidence

Question 9

Explain the different types of standardisations

Answer 9

Products: Setting specifications for a product’s design, dimensions, materials or features to ensure consistency
e.g. electrical plugs + sockets, paper sizes
Processes: Creating uniform aprocedures and methods
e.g. ISO 9001 certification outlines quality management standards
Materials: Ensure use of materials that meet specific uniform quality standards accross manufacturers
e.g. ISO standards for sizes + qualities of metals & plastics, BSI grading timber
Component: Allows for mass production + simplifies manufacturing by using common parts accross a range of products - reduced cost + easier mainntenance
e.g. Batteris and chargers, nuts and bolts
Safety and Compliance: Specific criteria to ensure products are safe to use and comply with regulations
e.g. CE marking in EU, UL certification in US

Question 10

Advantages and disadvantages of standardisation

Answer 10

Advantages
- reduced cost for mass production
- simplified supply chains
- increased market reach
- consistency in quality
- improved compatibility
- easier maintenance and repairs
- focus is on innovative features rather than basic components
Disadvantages
- limits creativity and customisation - designs must follow established norms
- dependance on external factors - if a standard is no longer used the company has to adapt, csoting time + money
- loss of flexibility - companies could be constrained by industry standards
- initial cost of standardisation

Question 11

Standard organisations

Answer 11

ISO (international organisation for standardisation):
- ISO 9001 (quality management)
- ISO 14001 (environmental management)
- ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety)
BSI (British Standards Institution):
- Develops British standards
ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials):
- Sets technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services used worldwide

Question 12

Examples of standards

Answer 12

• USB Ports
• vehicle emissions standards
• building material sizes, qualities
• clothing sizes
• food packaging sizes