Types of IPRs Flashcards
What is an IPR
tradable legal rights resulting from intellectual property in industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields that safeguard its creators by granting them time-limited rights to control their invention’s use
trade of IPRs is intangible and non-exhausted consumption
types of IPR
- patents
- trademarks
- copyrights
- geo. indications
- industrial designs
- layout designs for integrated circuits
what is a patent
exclusive right, lasting 20 years, granted for the invention of a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or technically solving a problem
patented inventions cannot be commercially produced, used, distributed or sold without owner’s consent
how can a patent be exploited by those other than its owner?
- owner may license other parties to use the invention on mutually agreed terms
- owner may sell the patent
- owner may be subjected to compulsory licensing
what happens once a patent expires?
the invention enters the public domain and the owner no longer has exclusive rights to it, so others can commercially exploit it
what is a trademark
distinctive sign that identifies certain goods or services produced by a specific person or enterprise, which may be one or a combo of words, letters and numerals as well as drawings, symbols, 3D symbols, audible signs, fragrances or colours
it ensures the owner the exclusive right to use it to identify goods and services or authorise another to use the good in return for payment
benefit of a trademark to consumers
helps them to identify and purchase products that meet their needs, based on nature and quality, as indicated by the trademark
how long to trademark rights last
10 years after initial registration, then it must be renewed periodically
what is a copyright
rights given to creators for literary and artistic work like novels, plays, reference works, films, music and paintings, which last for the life of the creator plus sixty years after their death (except photographs)
60 years from the beginning of the calendar year following the year in which the photograph was published
issues of registration for copyrights
not mandatory to register since it subsists in a work by virtue of creation, but registering a copyright provides legal evidence that the copyright subsists and its creator owns the work
how are copyrights exploited
creators sell the right to the work to individuals and companies best able to market the work in return for payments, known as royalties, which are dependent on the use of the work
what are GIs
an exclusive right given to particular community for goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities that are due to that place of origin, and the benefits of this right are shared by all members of that community
applied example of GI
agricultural products tend to have qualities that derive frorm their place of production such as climate and soil, as well as human factors like specific manufacturing skills and traditions
e.g. darjeeling tea in West Bengal
lonavala chikki
fenny - goa
mysore sandalwood soap
what is an indsutrial design
creative activity resulting in the ornamental appearance of a product
what is an industrial design right
the exclusice right to a novel industrial design (define ID here) that is accorded to its creator to promote and protect the design element of industrial production
which act covers existing legislation on IDs in India
New Designs Act 2000
what are trade secrets
confidential business info providing an enterprise with a competitive edge, usually manufacturing, industrial or commercial secrets such as sales methods, manufacturing processes or lists of suppliers/clients
how have ID rights been adapted in India in line with globalisation
legislation is aligned with the changing technical and commercial scenario to comform to international trends in design admin
also enacts a more detailed classification of design to conform to intl. system and regulate the proliferation of design related activities in various fields
how are trade secrets unique?
they do not need registration to be protected unlike patents
duration of protection of trade secrets
unlimited period PROVIDED a substantial element of secrecy exists such that it would be hard to obtain the info unless improper means are used
how can india benefit from Trade Secret protection
because of the vast availability of traditional knowledge in the country. TSs and trad knowledge are interlinked with GIs
define a semiconductor integrated circuit
a product comprising transistors and other circuitory elements
which are inseparably formed on a semiconductor material or insulating material or inside the SC material
that is designed to perform an electronic function
what Act protects IP related to SCICL designs?
Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act (SICLD) 2000
explain how the SICLD Act works
gives the registered proprietor of the layout design the inherent right to use, commercially exploit and be protected against infringement of the design
how long does the SICLD Act provide protection
10 year period post registration, then must be renewed periodically at the Department of Information Technology Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
What is the importance of registering IP?
Developing a new product involves a lot of time, money and effort to be invested
The inventor will naturally expect to be able to own exclusive rights over the invention and exclude others from benefitting from it
IP systems and laws provide this exclusivity and give the inventor advantages including prima facie ownership proof that allows them to enforce IPR in court if needed
Thus, IPR protection is CRUCIAL to provide inventors with the incentive to keep innovating and benefitting from their i ventions, which will also benefit the wider society
Comment on the general process of registering IP
involved IP registration followed by process of verifying authenticity of creation
entity granting the IP must carry out extensive research to verify that the creation is original, authentic and not lifted from another
done by publishing new creations in IP journals to fact check other individuals/entities claiming IP rights against the same/similar creations
process of registering and acquiring IPR can take between a few months and many years and includes various rounds of correction by the inventor
what are the benefits of IPR
exclusive control to owner over financial and usage benefits
inventor can exercise the right to file a court case against competitors violating IP laws to benefit from the invention (will receive financial compensation)
- increase market share and profits by exclusive commercial exploitation
- may increase business value - M/A/Sale
- income from royalties
- marketing angle - improves business image by differentiating products
- sale, licensing or using IPR as collateral for easier finance access
- registered and protected brands and designs can help enter export and franchising markets
international conventions
The TRIPS Agreement contains references to the provisions of certain pre-existing intellectual property conventions:
- Paris Convention - Industrial Property like industrial design, patents and utility models
- Berne Convention - Literary and Artistic Works (1971)
TRIPS
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
minimum standards agreement to protect various forms of intellectual property, provision for which India has already made through changes to national law