Every one of us has something special to share with the world, and it is our right to

protect these intangible inventions. They may come in different forms, including product
discovery, innovation, and artistic works. If these creations of mind captivate public
interest, then owners will look for ways to enter the markets or pursue
commercialization. Before that, inventors, authors, or businesses must have exclusive
rights over their idea/design. Applying for legal protection before going to the market is
not easy, but it also doesn’t have to be hard.

Intellectual property rights give business owners and entrepreneurs enough leverage to
avoid copycats, infringers, and thefts. As we live in a digital world, the importance of
protecting Intellectual Property has increased tenfold, and innovation has become a
company’s mainstay. To successfully protect your Intellectual property, you have to first
understand what type of innovation is involved.

Types of Innovation

To ensure your intellectual property is sustainable and reliable in any situation, you
must figure out which protection is best suited to your innovation. Some creatives solve
problems associated with design, while others indulge in technological advancements.
Each of them is dealt with uniquely and has specific criteria to gain exclusive rights.

Technical Solutions
If your innovation offers a unique solution to a technical problem, then the best way to
acquire legal protection is by applying for a patent. With a patent to your name, you are
given complete authority for twenty years. Before applying for a patent, it is
recommended to approach a patent attorney or analyst, who can assess your
application and make necessary changes to avoid rejection. When a patent is approved,
its publication will be added to the central database accessible to the general public.
This could backfire in many cases because it creates more copycats in the marketplace,
resulting in decreased sales figures.

Design Protection
When design or blueprint is the centerpiece of your innovation, you must apply for
design protection. In UAE, the design protection period lasts for ten years, and
individuals are required to fulfill annuity payments. To make it a smooth transition,
contact your patent attorney to guide you throughout the application process.

Protection of Creative Works- Books, Songs, Photographs

Intellectual property rights protect creative works by using copyright and trademark law.
These help in safeguarding the appearance of your product, and no other entity can
remake their own version. Copyright protection is applicable to personal and
professional assets, so your digital content and images will be classified as original
works.

Intellectual property can take so many forms in different fields and industries. It can be a
simple idea that you get in your morning shower or a complex solution you’ve been
working on for years. In both cases, it is paramount to apply for legal protection and
secure complete ownership of your creation.

Importance of Intellectual Property

The economy is changing rapidly, and a large part of it is associated with small and
medium-sized enterprises. These contribute heavily to job creation and national
economic growth. This economic shift is happening globally, so competition would not
be confined to national boundaries. Marketing is going to change, and people will start
to acquire more specialist skills. Without intellectual property, small businesses and
enterprises will be at significant risk, and their R&D investments will have no purpose.

Intellectual property rights enable individuals to increase their international

competitiveness. By applying for intellectual property, you are making an upfront
investment, but you will carry the benefits for a very long period. It allows to maintain
secrecy and enables the owner to commercialize the product.

Having legal IP protection opens new doors or sources to finance because it can
enhance a company's value by effectively evaluating its valuation and management.
Intellectual property is always the main differentiator for successful businesses, as it
helps them stay ahead by giving a competitive edge in the marketplace. However, every
business is different and the IP attached to it can take up different roles. Some can be
to increase awareness, while others take care of market conditions such as length of
product cycles and the risks of infringement by competitors.

TYPES OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Now that you have a clear conscience regarding the importance of having legal
protection, we have to take a step further and explore different types of intellectual
property. The four main types of intellectual property include:

● Patents- A patent is a government approved document that states full ownership

over the invention is given to the owner for a set period of time. In the UAE, it is
ten years but this changes from one country to another.
 ● Copyrights- Copyright law is used to add a legal protection layer for creative
works including written books, poetry, a piece of music, etc. With copyright
protection, authors or artists receive recognition for their work, not their design or
concept.
● Trademarks- Trademark law is deployed by organizations to protect their
branding and public interests. Examples- slogans, logos, and brand names.
● Trade Secrets- Techniques or formulas that give a companies competitive edge
in the marketplace is called a trade secret. In few cases, trade secrets act as an
alternative to design patents and it has more economic advantage than any other
IP right.

1. Patents & Design

A patent is a common form of intellectual property used to protect inventions from being
exploited by a third-party. After getting a patent, the owner of the invention has an
opportunity to commercialize and make significant profits. Patent partners or owners
can also issue licenses to third parties under mutually agreed terms.

How can it help safeguard inventions?

● Having a patent issued to your name means you will reap rewards when society
as a whole stands to benefit your invention. As the technology is new, you will
get a return of time and the economic opportunities will increase.
● Small businesses can notice economic growth once they apply for a patent.
When a patent gets published on the main database, it attracts more investors
looking for a tradable asset, so patent owners get more opportunities for
business growth and job creation.
● A patent can not only safeguard inventions, but it can also fund for further
research and development to make the product even better. This way,
companies can always have that competitive edge in the marketplace.
● Design rights are different from a patent, as it only focuses on the shape and
form of a product, and not its functionality. Designs are hard to steal because
customers recognize the original product and they determine long term
sustainability and commercial success.

Types of Patents

There are four main types of patents that one can apply to protect their invention. It is
important for inventors to align their purpose with specific patents to make most of
intellectual property rights.

Utility Patent
Utility patent is given to a new or improved product that mentions all the details involved
during the process and it teaches the public how to use the newer version. Utility
patents are highly valuable assets for big and small businesses because they give
commercial authority to the owners to produce and utilize the latest technology. This
type of patent takes up a lot of time to document and the complexity keeps on
increasing.

Design Patents
This type of patent protects the shape and form of a product or machine. It has nothing
to do with the