IP Facts on various intellectual property rights

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind or intellect. It may come in the form of inventions, trade mark, design used in commerce, literary and artistic works, symbols, images, and practical application of a good idea. Trade secrets, patents, designs, trade marks, copyright, circuit layout rights and plant breeders' rights are all intellectual property rights. Not all require formal steps to acquire legal rights of ownership. Copyright Copyright protection relates to the form or way an idea or information is expressed, not the idea or information itself. It includes idea or information that is written down, filmed or recorded in some way. It is a type of legal protection for people who produce writings, images, music, literary works and films. Copyright prevents others from using the work without the permission of the copyright owner. Copyright protection is free and automatic. There is no system of registration for copyright protection in Australia. Provided the work is not copied, it is protected automatically from the time it is first written down or recorded in some way. There is also no formal requirement to put a copyright notice. Australian copyright works are protected in most other countries, and copyright works from most other countries are protected in Australia.