FAQ

Primary Entity is the name and details of the business you are creating the Registry of IP for. This is likely to be your business name as listed in Companies House (UK).

The business type is a short description of the activity the business carries out. Try and make it descriptive. For example, if the Business Type is "Consultancy", create a short description about what the Consultancy does.

The Sector is the industry sector that the business works in. You can add multiple business sectors. Business sectors mostly fall under the following categories:- AGRICULTURE (agritech, aquaculture, forestry, crop enhancement, crop protection, fishing, hunting, crop automation) CONSUMER AND BUSINESS PRODUCTS & SERVICES (e-commerce, retail, consumer electronics, household electronics, personal care products, clothing & shoes, accessories, office management, consulting) EMERGING TECHNOLOOGIES (legaltech, fintech, cybersecurity, edtech, femtech, deeptech, cleantech, proptech, forensics, swarm robotics, smart houses) FOOD & DRINK (food, drink, foodtech, food manufacturing, food supplements) HEALTH & BIOTECH (healthcare, med tech, femtech, biotech, veterinary, pharmaceutical, wellbeing, products for wellbeing, digital apps, gene editing, stem cells & treatments, body implants, prosthesis, electronic medical records, nanomedicine) INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (displays, biometrics, e-textiles, spintronics, molecular electronics, batteries, energy harvesting, AI, DNA digital storage, quantum computing, cryptography, nanosensors, brain-computer interface, satellite technologies) MANUFACTURING & INDUSTRY (engineering, electrical, materials, defence, security, construction, mechanical, automation systems, new material technologies, laser technologies) MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT (computer-generated imagery, immersive virtual reality, film production, gaming, marketing, entertainment) TRANSPORT (automotive, civil engineering for road & rail, maritime, aerospace, logistics, electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, autonomous vehicles, hover-vehicles, hydrodynamic technologies)

Use “ACTIVITY” to identify what type of commercial activity the Entity is or was engaged in at the time of developing the IP. For EXAMPLE, a Company’s Activity may be to ‘develop nanosensors based on nanomaterials’ when the Company operates in the Information & Communication Technologies sector.

IP can be broken down into three categories:- Registrable IPRs (Patent, Trademark, Design) Unregistrable IPRs (Copyright, Database Right, UK Unregistered Trademark, UK Design Right, Community EU Design Right Intellectual Assets (Artistic works, Brand Names, Customer Lists, Customer/Market Knowledge, Database, Domain names, Endorsements / certificates, Experimental / Test Results, First Mover Advantage, Know how (technical, commercial, competitive intelligence, product), Market reports and landscapes, Marketing Literature, Relevant publications, Software Code, Supplier Knowledge, Tax relief applications (R&D Tax Claim, Patent Box Claim), Value adding Contracts (License agreements, customers, suppliers, letter of intent, collaboration agreements, non disclosure agreements, ongoing contracts, etc), Website Information, White Papers)

Registrable IPRS are:- Patents Exclusive rights granted to inventors for their new and useful inventions, such as machines, processes, and compositions of matter. They provide the holder with the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing the invention for a specified period of time. Trademarks Distinctive signs that identify and distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of another. They can consist of words, logos, symbols, or a combination of these elements. Industrial Designs Protection for the visual appearance of a product, such as its shape, configuration, pattern, or ornamentation.

Un-registrable IPRs include: Community (EU) Design Right Protection for the appearance of the whole or part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture, or materials of the product itself or its ornamentation. It is registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and gives the owner the right to prevent others from copying the design in the EU. Copyright Protection for original works of authorship, such as literary, artistic, and musical works. It gives the owner the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and display the work. Database Right Protection for databases, which are defined as collections of independent works, data or other materials that are arranged in a systematic or methodical way. It gives the owner the right to control the extraction or reuse of the contents of the database. UK design right Protection for the appearance of the whole or part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture, or materials of the product itself or its ornamentation. It gives the owner the right to prevent others from copying the design. UK unregistered trademark Protection for a sign or symbol that is used to distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of another. It is not registered with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) but is still protected by common law.

Intellectual Assets include:- Artistic works This refers to creative works such as paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other visual art. These works can be valuable intellectual assets because they are protected by copyright law and can be used to enhance the company's branding and marketing efforts. Brand names This refers to the names or logos that a company uses to identify its products or services. Brand names can be valuable intellectual assets because they are protected by trademark law and can be used to differentiate the company's products from those of competitors. Customer lists This refers to a list of a company's customers that includes their contact information and other relevant details. This information can be used to target marketing efforts and is a valuable intellectual asset because it is unique to the company. Customer/market knowledge This refers to a company's understanding of its customers and the market in which it operates. This can include information on customer needs, preferences, and behaviour, as well as trends in the broader market. Database This refers to a collection of organized data that a company has compiled and maintained over time. Databases can be valuable intellectual assets because they contain proprietary information on customers, products, and other aspects of the company's operations. Domain Names These are unique names that identify a website on the internet. They are valuable assets that can establish the company's online presence and brand identity. Domain names can also influence search engine rankings and attract more traffic to the company's website. Endorsements / Certificates These are third-party certifications or approvals that validate the company's products, services, or processes. Endorsements and certificates can enhance the company's credibility and reputation, provide a competitive advantage, and increase customer trust. Experimental / test results This refers to the results of experiments and tests conducted by the company as part of its research and development efforts. These results can be a valuable source of information and can help the company improve its products and processes. First mover advantage This refers to the advantage that a company gains by being the first to enter a particular market or introduce a new product or service. This advantage can be a valuable intellectual asset because it can be difficult for competitors to replicate. Know-how This refers to a company's proprietary knowledge (technical, commercial, competitive intelligence, product design, process design, etc.) and expertise in various areas, such as technical processes, product design, and competitive intelligence. This can include information on how to manufacture products, optimize processes, and conduct research and development. Market reports and landscapes This refers to research reports and other documents that provide information on the size and characteristics of a particular market or industry. This information can be used to inform the company's strategic decisions. Marketing literature This refers to the company's marketing materials, such as brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials. These materials can be a valuable intellectual asset because they help to promote the company's products and services and can be used to inform customers and stakeholders. Relevant publications This refers to articles, reports, and other publications that are relevant to the company's business or industry. These publications can be a valuable source of information and can help the company stay up-to- date on the latest trends and developments. Software code This refers to the programming code that underlies a company's software applications. It is a valuable intellectual asset because it is unique to the company and is protected by copyright law. Supplier knowledge This refers to the company's knowledge of its suppliers, including information on pricing, quality, and reliability. This information can be a valuable intellectual asset because it helps the company to manage its supply chain and reduce costs. Tax Relief Applications These are applications that allow companies to claim tax relief for their research and development (R&D) expenses or patent income. R&D Tax Claims and Patent Box Claims are two examples of tax relief applications. These applications can reduce the company's tax liabilities and increase its cash flow, allowing it to invest more in its R&D activities and intellectual property portfolio. Value-Adding Contracts These are contractual agreements that provide significant value to a company's business operations, such as license agreements, customer and supplier contracts, letters of intent, collaboration agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and ongoing contracts. They can generate significant revenue streams, protect the company's intellectual property, and establish long-term relationships with customers and suppliers. Website information This refers to the content on the company's website, including text, images, and other multimedia elements. This content can be a valuable intellectual asset because it helps to promote the company's products and services and can be used to inform customers and stakeholders. White Papers These are authoritative reports or guides that provide in-depth information on a particular topic, often related to the company's products or services. White papers are valuable assets that can showcase the company's expertise, educate customers, and generate leads.