Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP) can be defined as the novel or previously undescribed tangible output of intellectual activity and includes those novel ideas or inventions arising from an inventors work.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are the legal rights that enable the owner of the IP to control or prevent unauthorised use of this IP and includes copyright, design rights (registered and unregistered), trade marks and patents.  IPR can be sold or licensed like any other form of property and therefore it is important that IPR is properly managed.

The following list gives an indication of what subject matter is covered by the different types of IPR: