Anything original that you create is your own property, automatically protected by law. This can be a product, picture, song etc. Especially relevant to designers
Once you sell this property to a client, you know longer own the rights. Instead you can license certain aspects of it
If someone uses your intellectual property for profit without permission, you can claim against them
Work for hire – If you’re an employee, whatever you create in your job is the intellectual property of your boss; however you can use the work you created in a portfolio as you aren’t profiting from it and it’s for private use
Automatic right when someone creates work that involves labour, skill or judgement – has to be original
Copyright lasts on 70 years on average, differs between different categories
Creative Commons – you own the copyright but grant permission for the public to use it but they have to attribute you wherever they use it, e.g. Unsplash, Freepik
Things that are fair use under copyright include news reports, criticism, and parodies
Prove ownership by using timestamps of earliest claim to the work – easy to prove with digital files
Patent
Protects innovations and inventions – products
Allows owner to use invention exclusively, but you can license the product out
Trademark
Distinguishes a company’s services/products from another (branding)
Similar to copyright, don’t need to register to gain protection rights
Registered trademark gives more legal benefits
To gain this you first have to make sure no one else has already trademarked your brand/name
NDA
Non-disclosure agreement
Parties agree that information will not be disclosed
Helps keep secrets and things that aren’t out in public such as new products in private
Creates a confidential relationship between said parties
