Protecting intellectual property
Your ideas, designs and even your brand names or logos are examples of your businesses intellectual property. They can be valuable business assets and you'll need to protect them from your competitors. Copyright, registering a trade mark, or filing a patent are three ways to do this. This is an introduction to protecting your intellectual property.
Learn to protect the 'creations of the mind', otherwise known as intellectual property. Take a look at what qualifies as intellectual property, and your rights as the owner or creator of this business asset.
Why is it important that you protect your intellectual property? Look after your trade marks, patents and copyrights by keeping up to date on: how to protect intellectual property, the management issues around intellectual property, and how to avoid conflict with another person’s IP rights.
This free online training module takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete. It explains the benefits of protecting your intellectual property (IP) both in New Zealand and in overseas markets, and offers an overview of the process.
A patent protects your new or improved product or process.
Find out what a patent is, why you should register a patent, how to check for existing patents, the application process, forms and fees, and applying for a patent.
The best time to file your overseas patent application is within 12 months of the date of filing a New Zealand application.
Find out the steps involved in seeking patent protection in other markets and countries, and the costs involved.
A trade mark is a unique identifier, often referred to as a ‘brand’ or ‘logo’.
Find out what a trade mark is, why you should register a trade mark, how to check for existing trade marks, the fees, and applying to register your trade mark in New Zealand.
Copyright provides protection for original works, such as drawings, music and film. There is no registration system for the protection of copyright in New Zealand.
Find out what copyright is and the rights of a copyright owner, how to protect copyright, and how long copyright protection lasts.
A registered design can help protect your ideas and creations in New Zealand and overseas.
Find out what a design is, why you should register a design, how to check for existing designs, the application process, fees, and registering your design.
What copyright protection does your original work have overseas?
Theft or infringement of intellectual property (IP) such as patents, designs and trade marks does happen. But there are ways you can insure your IP and protect your business against any financial loss you face if this happens to you.