Patent and IP: How to protect your product designs
Intellectual property & development
What to protect and when? Is the most important question regarding IP. (patents and registered design trademarks). For over a decade we have worked very closely with a select number of IP attorneys who specialise in different fields. We engage their services very early on, not just to search, but to help plan what can be protected and the strategy to integrate it into the development plan.
Patents
A patent protects an invention which is both new and inventive. It gives the owner a monopoly to use the invention, and the power to stop others who copy it. A single good patent can form the basis for an entire business. Patents are useful because they protect the idea behind a product, not necessarily the product itself. Anyone who also uses that idea, regardless or whatever else they might do, infringes the patent. If the patent protects an idea in broad terms, then it can be used to stop others making products which are anything like yours, giving you an exclusive right to exploit an entire market. Sometimes patents only protect a new part of a product, but if that part improves the product then the patent will give you an edge over your competitors.
Patent box
If you are a UK company, and make a profit from the granted patents that have allowed you to exploit your invention, you can reduce your corporation tax liability under the Patent Box system. The corporation tax due on profits made from sales of patented products, or those which contain a patented component, will begin to reduce year on year from April 2013, until the burden is just half the regular level. (10%) Companies with a healthy patent portfolio stand to reduce their corporate tax burden by a very significant amount.
Registered design
Registered design is a very powerful form of IP in the world of Product design. A registered design will prevent people copying or stealing it by protecting the appearance, physical shape, configuration (or how different parts of a design are arranged together) and the decoration. The protection can last up to 25 years and needs renewing every 5 years. At Bang Creations we have worked with our IP partners and helped the majority of our clients register their designs. Our Colandish design has a Patent, but also a registered design. The look of the product was found to be so appealing that it won a German design award! Despite its patented function we were able to prevent companies copying its form.
Taking products to market
We have been privileged enough to be involved in the strategy for taking product to market for clients from large multinationals through to start ups. We have helped many inventors who attended the British Library workshop we run to turn their idea into a business. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work. From the Library workshop alone, we have helped Spencer have all 4 Dragons in the Den compete for his Teg stove, Chloe secure a distributor for her lapbaby product, and this year we saw Simon launch his foiling Trimaran at The London Boat Show to much acclaim. We have licensed dozens of our own ideas to companies as well as currently running international distribution for our products Bob and Colandish. Stefan is often asked run workshops for companies to help them create more innovative concepts that are commercially viable.
Trade marks
Trade Marks “In a world driven by image and reputation, nothing is more important than protecting your name” (Barren Warren Redfern)
A trade mark is used to protect your brand, the name and sometimes the identity mark of your product or service. If someone copies or uses your name or mark without your permission you can take legal action against them, including counterfeiters
IP infringement and searching
A patent, a registered design and a trade mark are all forms of Intellectual Property, and once registered and granted belong to you. They can be sold and are essential when trying to licence or sell your concept or gain investment. They are territory specific and will allow you to prevent the import and sale of goods into that market in which you have been granted IP protection. Many of our clients worry about infringing IP prior to starting a project. We work with our partners and often carry out IP searches. Normally we search filed patents, but we do also look at the registered design and trade mark directories. It is vital you get a detailed report from the IP specialist on what they have found and how that can impact on your concept.
Patent and IP: How to protect your product designs
Intellectual property & development
What to protect and when? Is the most important question regarding IP. (patents and registered design trademarks).
For over a decade we have worked very closely with a select number of IP attorneys who specialise in different fields. We engage their services very early on, not just to search, but to help plan what can be protected and the strategy to integrate it into the development plan.
Patents
A patent protects an invention which is both new and inventive. It gives the owner a monopoly to use the invention, and the power to stop others who copy it. A single good patent can form the basis for an entire business. Patents are useful because they protect the idea behind a product, not necessarily the product itself. Anyone who also uses that idea, regardless or whatever else they might do, infringes the patent. If the patent protects an idea in broad terms, then it can be used to stop others making products which are anything like yours, giving you an exclusive right to exploit an entire market. Sometimes patents only protect a new part of a product, but if that part improves the product then the patent will give you an edge over your competitors.
Patent box
If you are a UK company, and make a profit from the granted patents that have allowed you to exploit your invention, you can reduce your corporation tax liability under the Patent Box system. The corporation tax due on profits made from sales of patented products, or those which contain a patented component, will begin to reduce year on year from April 2013, until the burden is just half the regular level. (10%) Companies with a healthy patent portfolio stand to reduce their corporate tax burden by a very significant amount.
Registered design
Registered design is a very powerful form of IP in the world of Product design. A registered design will prevent people copying or stealing it by protecting the appearance, physical shape, configuration (or how different parts of a design are arranged together) and the decoration. The protection can last up to 25 years and needs renewing every 5 years. At Bang Creations we have worked with our IP partners and helped the majority of our clients register their designs. Our Colandish design has a Patent, but also a registered design. The look of the product was found to be so appealing that it won a German design award! Despite its patented function we were able to prevent companies copying its form.
Taking products to market
We have been privileged enough to be involved in the strategy for taking product to market for clients from large multinationals through to start ups. We have helped many inventors who attended the British Library workshop we run to turn their idea into a business. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work. From the Library workshop alone, we have helped Spencer have all 4 Dragons in the Den compete for his Teg stove, Chloe secure a distributor for her lapbaby product, and this year we saw Simon launch his foiling Trimaran at The London Boat Show to much acclaim. We have licensed dozens of our own ideas to companies as well as currently running international distribution for our products Bob and Colandish. Stefan is often asked run workshops for companies to help them create more innovative concepts that are commercially viable.
Trade marks
Trade Marks “In a world driven by image and reputation, nothing is more important than protecting your name” (Barren Warren Redfern)
A trade mark is used to protect your brand, the name and sometimes the identity mark of your product or service. If someone copies or uses your name or mark without your permission you can take legal action against them, including counterfeiters
IP infringement and searching
A patent, a registered design and a trade mark are all forms of Intellectual Property, and once registered and granted belong to you. They can be sold and are essential when trying to licence or sell your concept or gain investment. They are territory specific and will allow you to prevent the import and sale of goods into that market in which you have been granted IP protection. Many of our clients worry about infringing IP prior to starting a project. We work with our partners and often carry out IP searches. Normally we search filed patents, but we do also look at the registered design and trade mark directories. It is vital you get a detailed report from the IP specialist on what they have found and how that can impact on your concept.
Patent and IP: How to protect your product designs
Intellectual property & development
What to protect and when? Is the most important question regarding IP. (patents and registered design trademarks).
For over a decade we have worked very closely with a select number of IP attorneys who specialise in different fields. We engage their services very early on, not just to search, but to help plan what can be protected and the strategy to integrate it into the development plan.
Patents
A patent protects an invention which is both new and inventive. It gives the owner a monopoly to use the invention, and the power to stop others who copy it. A single good patent can form the basis for an entire business. Patents are useful because they protect the idea behind a product, not necessarily the product itself. Anyone who also uses that idea, regardless or whatever else they might do, infringes the patent. If the patent protects an idea in broad terms, then it can be used to stop others making products which are anything like yours, giving you an exclusive right to exploit an entire market. Sometimes patents only protect a new part of a product, but if that part improves the product then the patent will give you an edge over your competitors.
Patent box
If you are a UK company, and make a profit from the granted patents that have allowed you to exploit your invention, you can reduce your corporation tax liability under the Patent Box system. The corporation tax due on profits made from sales of patented products, or those which contain a patented component, will begin to reduce year on year from April 2013, until the burden is just half the regular level. (10%) Companies with a healthy patent portfolio stand to reduce their corporate tax burden by a very significant amount.
Registered design
Registered design is a very powerful form of IP in the world of Product design. A registered design will prevent people copying or stealing it by protecting the appearance, physical shape, configuration (or how different parts of a design are arranged together) and the decoration. The protection can last up to 25 years and needs renewing every 5 years. At Bang Creations we have worked with our IP partners and helped the majority of our clients register their designs. Our Colandish design has a Patent, but also a registered design. The look of the product was found to be so appealing that it won a German design award! Despite its patented function we were able to prevent companies copying its form.
Taking products to market
We have been privileged enough to be involved in the strategy for taking product to market for clients from large multinationals through to start ups. We have helped many inventors who attended the British Library workshop we run to turn their idea into a business. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work. From the Library workshop alone, we have helped Spencer have all 4 Dragons in the Den compete for his Teg stove, Chloe secure a distributor for her lapbaby product, and this year we saw Simon launch his foiling Trimaran at The London Boat Show to much acclaim. We have licensed dozens of our own ideas to companies as well as currently running international distribution for our products Bob and Colandish. Stefan is often asked run workshops for companies to help them create more innovative concepts that are commercially viable.
Trade marks
Trade Marks “In a world driven by image and reputation, nothing is more important than protecting your name” (Barren Warren Redfern)
A trade mark is used to protect your brand, the name and sometimes the identity mark of your product or service. If someone copies or uses your name or mark without your permission you can take legal action against them, including counterfeiters
IP infringement and searching
A patent, a registered design and a trade mark are all forms of Intellectual Property, and once registered and granted belong to you. They can be sold and are essential when trying to licence or sell your concept or gain investment. They are territory specific and will allow you to prevent the import and sale of goods into that market in which you have been granted IP protection. Many of our clients worry about infringing IP prior to starting a project. We work with our partners and often carry out IP searches. Normally we search filed patents, but we do also look at the registered design and trade mark directories. It is vital you get a detailed report from the IP specialist on what they have found and how that can impact on your concept.