Introduction

Welcome to this Intellectual Property guide for inventors and businesses.

This website is designed to provide a broad overview on all aspects of Intellectual Property law for inventors and businesses. Throughout the site, you will find descriptions of the types of Intellectual Property that exist and which would be of most benefit to your business or particular idea.

We hope to answer any questions you might have about Intellectual Property and to assist you in the exploitation of new ideas by increasing your awareness and understanding of the IP system.

Where to Begin

IPR Guide Section: Inventors and prospective trademark owners will find useful information covering all forms of Intellectual Property, including Patents, Trademarks and Copyright.

Intellectual Property Conventions: This offers a brief introduction to the various intellectual property conventions that enable overseas applications together with a list of the states they cover.

A number of useful links are provided to direct inventors and prospective trademark owner to sites that are home to professional bodies involved in IP, sites which enable some basic searches to see if you really are the first to think of that great idea, and also sites that are of general interest to inventors and businesses alike.

Dragons' Den Returns!

For all you aspiring entrepreneurs looking to protect and exploit that big idea, the BBC is once again giving you the opportunity to make a pitch to the dreaded Dragons!

This time around, the BBC is giving entrepreneurs two opportunities to secure funding for their business idea. As with all previous series, the first is to pitch to the Dragons before the cameras with the possibility of securing in excess of £50,000! In addition, in this latest instalment of the popular Dragons' Den series, you have the chance to pitch to two new Dragons in an online arena. Whilst investments via the online application are limited to a maximum of £50,000, they can at least be made in the comfort of your own home instead of the high pressure environment of the Den!

Entrepreneurs wanting to apply can do so via email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or by visiting the website www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden. Alternatively and/or additionally, if you would like to try and secure some protection for your idea, please visit the professional advice section of this site. It may be the difference between a huge investment and a mauling in the Den!

Important note:
The comments in this section represent only a simplified summary of Intellectual Property and are not intended to be comprehensive. Professional advice should be sought in any particular instance as to the protection available. More information may be found in the Professional Advice section.