Legal and ethical issues
Intellectual property (often abbreviated ‘IP’) is a term that is used to describe a wide range of types of property. IP rights may be said to be ‘intangible’ in the sense that they do not constitute physical assets but nonetheless their importance to companies, whether small or large, cannot be underestimated. Copyright: This right arises automatically in original artistic, dramatic and literary works, including video games and protects the expression of an idea not the idea itself. Ownership of copyright will permit the owner to prevent unauthorised use including the making of copies or placement of the work on the internet. The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 sets out the types of creative works that have copyright protection under English law. Copyright protection does not last indefinitely and the period of protection varies for different works. Trademarks Trademarks are signs or symbols which distinguish products or services from those of other ...