Other Protection
Intellectual Property (IP) covers a wide range of subjects and you may find that you can protect your idea by another right.
Companies House
Companies House deal with the registration and provision of company information.
Conditional access technology
For encrypted broadcasts and transmissions, you may need authority to produce decoding apparatus and equipment.
Copy protection devices
Copyright owners may choose to use technical measures to protect their material.
Database right
If you have created a database, you may have automatic protection in addition to copyright.
Design right
United Kingdom (UK) Design Right and Community Design Right may give automatic protection for the look of your product.
Plant breeders rights
If you have created a new variety of plant or seed, you may be able to protect it at The Plant Variety Rights Office and Seeds Division in the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Publication right
If you publish a work on which copyright has expired you may receive a publication right.
Protection abroad
If you want to protect your IP abroad you will need to apply for protection in the countries which you want your IP to have effect. Your UK IP rights do not give you automatic protection abroad except in limited circumstances.
Trade secrets
There is no legal requirement for you to file a patent, you could decide to keep your invention secret but if it enters the public domain then you may lose your rights to it.
