Propiedad intelectual
Patentes, marcas, derechos de autor, diseños y aplicación de PI.
Introducción
La propiedad intelectual protege las creaciones de la mente, incluyendo invenciones, obras literarias y marcas comerciales.
Principios fundamentales
Patents — A patent grants a 20-year monopoly on an invention that is new, involves an inventive step, is capable of industrial application, and is not excluded subject matter (Patents Act 1977, s.1). Applications are made to the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO).
Copyright — Arises automatically upon creation of an original literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work. No registration required. Lasts for the author's life plus 70 years. Protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves (CDPA 1988).
Trade Marks — A sign (word, logo, shape, colour, sound) registered at the UKIPO that distinguishes the goods or services of one trader from another. Registration lasts 10 years, renewable indefinitely (Trade Marks Act 1994).
Passing Off — A common law tort protecting unregistered goodwill. Requires proof of goodwill, misrepresentation, and damage (the 'classic trinity' from Reckitt & Colman v Borden [1990]).
Design Rights — Registered designs protect the appearance of a product for up to 25 years (Registered Designs Act 1949). Unregistered design right protects the shape or configuration of an article for up to 15 years (CDPA 1988, Part III).
Infringement and Remedies — IP owners can bring proceedings for infringement, seeking injunctions, damages or an account of profits, delivery up, and in some cases additional damages for flagrant infringement.
Fair Dealing — Copyright is subject to exceptions including fair dealing for research, private study, criticism, review, quotation, news reporting, and parody (CDPA 1988, ss.29–30A).
Database Rights — A sui generis right protecting databases where there has been substantial investment in obtaining, verifying, or presenting data (Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997).
Leyes clave
Patents Act 1977
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Trade Marks Act 1994
Registered Designs Act 1949
Casos principales
Reckitt & Colman v Borden
[1990] 1 WLR 491
Designers Guild v Russell Williams
[2000] UKHL 58
Escenarios comunes
Someone copies your website content
Website content (text, images, code) is protected by copyright under the CDPA 1988. You can send a cease-and-desist letter and pursue damages or an injunction for copyright infringement. No registration is required to enforce copyright in the UK.
Competitor uses a confusingly similar brand name
If you have a registered trade mark, this may constitute trade mark infringement under the TMA 1994. If unregistered, you may bring a passing off claim if you can show goodwill, misrepresentation, and damage.
Patenting a new invention
File a patent application at the UKIPO. The invention must be new, involve an inventive step, and be capable of industrial application. The process takes 2–4 years. Once granted, the patent gives a 20-year monopoly. Software 'as such' and business methods are excluded from patentability.