Any information, including experimental methods, computer software, formulae, ideas, prototypes, processes, recipes, drawings, specifications, customer lists, business strategies and sales/marketing information, that is not known by a owner's competitors, provides the owner with a competitive advantage, and is treated by the owner in a way to prevent the public or competitors learning about it.

Is legal protection of writing, music, pictures and computer programs which have been made publicly available and created by the author. Legal protection is automatic in most countries upon publication - there are usually no registration procedures.

Legal registration or protection is available for the shape (eg: shape of table or chair), configuration or ornamentation of a product which is new and not published. To be registrable, your design must be new and not yet in the public domain/marketplace. Once a design is released to the marketplace you will lose any chance of gaining exclusive rights to that design.

We provide advice on the legal registration protection for inventions. This includes gizmos, production processes or business methodologies. Legal protection is available to inventions which are new, not in the public domain and not obvious. Ideas are not protectable under patent law.

Business Names, Company Names and Domain Names do not offer you any protection in relation to the name. Trademark protection does! Trademark protection can be an inexpensive exercise or process, but is also very complex for the inexperienced. Get good advice early, ask us BEFORE you begin.