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SECTION 6:

Intellectual Property

esse qui

Laboris est labore culpa dolor.

International treaties and Brexit

amet officia

Nostrud labore ipsum aute enim pariatur dolore et.

Trade marks (TM)

qui esse

Quis in ipsum pariatur. Labore proident do sit officia tempor nisi. Eu nostrud Lorem laborum veniam.

Patents

laboris ut

Nulla dolore laboris incididunt laborum. Ex id duis et consectetur.

Designs

duis aliquip

Labore ex elit sint velit. Aliqua irure culpa eu nulla qui qui.

Copyright

magna proident

Commodo occaecat dolor nisi. Proident quis occaecat mollit consequat laboris. Aliqua ad laborum anim irure.

Trade secrets and confidential information

ut dolore

Ex id cupidatat in aliqua. Incididunt nulla est aliqua ea veniam. Lorem tempor nostrud proident.

Database right

International treaties and Brexit


The UK is a signatory to many key World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) administered treaties1, including the Paris Convention, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Berne Convention (copyright), the WIPO Copyright Treaty, the Hague Agreement (designs) and the Protocol to the Madrid Agreement (trade marks).

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides the legal framework for trade and cooperation between the UK and the EU following Brexit, including IP protection.

Trade marks and designs

Patents

1 A useful summary of key WIPO-administered treaties can be found here.


Trade marks (TM)


The UK was recently ranked in the top ten for global brand value in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index and number two in Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power Index 2024, a worldwide study on perceptions of nation brands.

Trade marks are governed by the Trade Marks Act 1994 (as amended). The UK is also known for its strong TM office and system and is a member of the Madrid Protocol and party to the Trademark Law Treaty.

Types

Registration

Duration

Revocation

Unregistered TMs/passing off

Marking


Patents


Patents are territorial rights. In general, exclusive rights are only applicable in the country or region in which a patent has been filed and granted, in accordance with the law of that country or region.

Applying for a patent

Employee ownership

Claiming priority

Disputes and enforcement

Term (including SPCs)

Accelerated prosecution

Marking


Designs


In the UK, registered designs are governed by The Registered Designs Act 1949 (as amended). The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) governs unregistered designs. The UK is also party to the Hague Agreement.

Unregistered Design Rights (UDRs)

Registered designs

Registered design rights

Applying for a registered design

Registered design term

Employee ownership

Marking


Copyright


Overview

Protection

Infringement

Term

Date of Creation

Marking

Employee ownership


Trade secrets and confidential information


Overview

Trade secrets

Term

National Security Act 2023

Limitations


Database right


Overview

Term

Scope of protection

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