Intellectual property

Intellectual Property is the umbrella term for a collection of ideas, inventions, designs and information that is created by you or your business. What does that really mean? The law recognises your ideas as having a value and is, therefore, deserving of protection. For example if a competitor or a copycat exploits your ideas or creative work without permission, you will have legal recourse as the owner. You may find yourself in the situation where a competitor has started using the same or very similar trade name as yours and it’s causing confusion for customers. How would you handle that and what are your rights? We have created a detailed guide explaining this and as well as the different categories of Intellectual Property rights, including Design Rights, Copyright, Trademarks and Patents.

The content on this website has been prepared by Markel Law LLP and it’s specified partners. It’s intended as guidance only and not to be regarded as a substitute for consultation with one of our solicitors or experts, since every case will ultimately turn on its own particular facts and circumstances. We recommend that you use our materials as your starting point and be aware that you sometimes have to follow a set procedure before taking any action, especially in an employment context. If you are in any doubt, we’d suggest that you get in touch with us and we’ll talk you through your options on how to get the right legal advice.