TYPES OF IP RIGHTS:
There are basically four types of intellectual property rights. These are:
PATENT:
A patent allows an inventor to protect his invention form others. The exclusive right allows him to prevent others from using their inventions without their permission. According to USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office), a patent is a protection provided for time period. During that time period the patentee (Patent Right Holder) has some exclusive rights to enjoy monopoly over their invention.
However, protection can only be granted when the invention is new, non-obvious, has some utility and inventive step.
TRADEMARK:
Trademark protection is granted to an entrepreneur or an enterprise to protect their brand name in the market. Trademark can be any logo, phrase, word, number, symbol, which are used to distinguish one good and service from another. Though registration of a trademark is not essential, however, registering a trademark furnish some advantages.
Example of trademarks are: Puma, McDonald’s, Zara, etc. also, there are 45 classes for different goods and services. Trademarks also helps the consumer to distinguish one product form another in the market.
COPYRIGHT:
A copyright is the kind of intellectual property which protects the author and the owner of any literary works, art, music, cinematography film, sound, etc. Also, computer software and architecture come under copyright protection. Under Section 14 of the Copyright Act, 1957 the meaning and subject matter of copyright has been provided. Copyright protection encourages artists to create and show their skills.
DESIGN:
A design protects the appearance and the ornamental features of a product. It protects the look of an article. In order a design to be protected, it should be new, should have an individual character. Furthermore, a design will not be granted protection if it is offensive in nature, does not have any individual character.
CONCLUSION
There are some intellectual property rights also which are trade secret and geographical indication. Through trade secrets one protects the secrets of a business. Company’s strategies, ideas, confidential information are protected under trade secret. And geographical indications are the type of intellectual property which protects property having a particular geographical origin. It protects the quality and reputation of that geographical area.