Intellectual Property

What is intellectual property? (ox.ac.uk)

Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. IP is ideas, information and knowledge. In the University context, IP can be viewed as the results and outcomes of research – ‘intellectual’ because it is creative output and ‘property’ because it is viewed as a tradable commodity.

Intellectual property rights (IPR) are specific legal rights which protect the owners of IP. IPR can be subdivided into the major categories below.

Patent

A patent is a legal monopoly lasting 20 years granted in exchange for describing an invention and paying fees to the Patent Office. See this section to know more about patenting at UCL 
UCL Intellectual Property (IP) Policy | Innovation & Enterprise - UCL – University College London
A patent position is nulled by public disclosure of the idea before a patent application is filed. Think patent before you publish. Patenting a novel therapy or biomarker can take as short as 3 months. Contact UCLB. 

Copyright

Copyright applies to literary and dramatic works, artistic and musical works, audio and video recordings, broadcasts and cable transmissions.
Copyright is also the usual way of protecting software, although some software may be patented if it is a functional part of an invention.
In UCL you can take advantage of the XIP platform Express licensing for software and materials developed at UCL: XIP - License ucl technologies - Our services - UCLB. Make sure you use code that can be licensed. Copyright lasts 70 years after the death of the author.

COPYRIGHTING SOFTWARE VS. PATENTING SOFTWARE (Software and Open Source Licensing | MIT Technology Licensing Office)
In general terms, a patent protects an idea and a copyright protects an expression of an idea. In the case of software, copyright protects the source and object code, but only protects the code as it is written. A patent conveys the right to prevent others from making using, selling or importing a program that performs the same function or process as the patented software, even if the code is entirely different from the patented software. It is possible to protect some software under both copyright and patent law, and UCLB will assist in determining the most appropriate form of protection.

Database right

Database rights apply to databases which are not protected by copyright (an EU right only – maximum duration is 15 years).

Design right

Design right applies to aspects of the shape or configuration of an article. Unregistered design right (which covers computer chips, for example) can protect internal or external features. In the case of registered designs, the features must appeal to and be judged by the eye. (Registered design rights are protected for a maximum of 25 years.)

Trade mark

A trade mark is a mark (logo) or other distinctive sign applied to or associated with products or services, which does not describe the products or services. (Once registered the trademark IPR is unlimited.)

Confidential information

Confidential information is knowledge which only you possess and which you have only revealed under a non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement.