There are various types of intellectual property:

• trademark registration
• design registration
• patent registration
• copyright.

Trademark registration is used to protect your branding, for example your logo. Once you have registered your trademark no-one else may use it or a mark that looks very similar to it.

The CIPRO website contains detailed information on trademark registration, including details on:

• What trademarks are
• The registration procedure
• How to apply
• What to do before applying
• How to renew an application
• Opposition to a trademark registration.

You can register the design of something you have created to prevent others from copying the shape, form, appearance, pattern, ornamentation or configuration of the item.

Information on what can be registered and how to register a design is available on the CIPRO site.

You can register a patent to prevent other people from copying your invention. This can be an innovative product, a new process or a new technical solution to a problem. Patent-protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed or sold without the owner's consent.

Detailed information on how to register a patent and how to find help with a patent registration is available on the CIPRO site.

When you write a book, paint a picture, compose a piece of music, write a computer programme or create a film or digital recording, you automatically have copyright in your work.

The copyright exists in the way the work is reduced to writing or is recorded. The ideas are not copyrighted.