Intellectual Property: It Starts with an Idea

Intellectual property constitutes a major part of our everyday life. Inventions make cell phones work, designs make jeans look good, trademarks identify your favourite drinks and copyright protects the books that you read. If you were to think about it ideas shape our world. They are the raw materials on which our future prosperity and heritage depend. Therefore it is imperative that we provide environments in which innovative ideas are induced, encouraged and rewarded. This is why intellectual property exists.

Intellectual property has two main branches Industrial Property and Copyright and Related Rights. In this review only the principal parts of Intellectual Property would be dealt with, these are:

1 Patents

2 Trademarks/Trade Secrets

3 Industrial Design

4 Copyright and Related Rights

Patents

An invention is a tangible, working and practical solution to a specific problem in a field of technology. This implies that the invention must be usable in practice, in industry and cannot consist of mere recognition of something existing or a law of nature. The protection of an invention is what we call a Patent. Lets take a look at one of the world’s most famous Patents.

In 1879 an invention that would change the world forever has found its way to our planet. This idea consisted of an incandescent filament in an evacuated glass bulb with a screw base. Once the idea was conceived creating a successful filament would be a critical factor. For it to be practical it had to glow when an electric current passed through it, possessing high electrical resistance, and be capable of lasting for a long time.

This American inventor thought that this idea would be of great benefit to the earth and that it would aid in the operations of many technical work processes. Yes it’s the light bulb an idea conceived by one of the world’s greatest inventor’s Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison developed a practical light bulb toward the end of 1879 and in 1880 he designed a version that was the first to have all the essential features of a modern light bulb – an incandescent filament in an evacuated glass bulb with a screw base. Today many of our process involve of the use of light. Could you imagine your home or maybe the office where you work without light. Patents as a result serve as the protection for inventor’s like Thomas Edison to be recognized for technical advances within a specific field of technology and without them we cannot enjoy the luxuries that we currently enjoy for example the light bulb.

Trademarks/Trade Secrets

A trademark can be a word, name, symbol, device or any combination thereof, which is used to identify and distinguish the goods or services of one company from goods or services of another. In order to qualify as a trademark, the mark must be used in federally regulated commerce, and the mark must be distinctive. Lets take a look at a very successful Trademark.

This trademark is probably the most widely used trademark today and traces its origin to the year 1886. Developed by an Atlanta pharmacist, John Pemberton who was known for developing medicines, created a drink consisting of carbonated water, cane sugar syrup, caffeine, the extracts of the kola nuts and coca leaves. Its name, which is derived from the Coca and Kola extracts, signifies its presence all around the world today. It’s surprising to know that, the drink we all enjoy today did not have the success it now has when it had just begun. The Coca Cola Company was sold to a wholesale druggist in 1891; after previous losses to Asa Candler, also living in Atlanta who registered the Coca Cola name as a trademark in 1893.

Coca Cola gained most of its recognition and popularity when it pledged to supply all U.S. soldiers with the drink during World War II. In 1936 Coca Cola recreated its image as a German company allowed Germans to reproduce all but two secret ingredients making the recipe a trade secret. Coca is enjoyed all around the world today and can be seen in many advertisements on the television and also in sports (especially in FIFA’s football competitions). It can be seen even in your local grocery store and it doesn’t matter which part of the world you live, we all speak the same language Coke.

Trademarks bring a sense of loyalty and trust with the name that goes behind it. Without even using a product, once you know the trademark behind it you associate some type of quality towards the commodity; its instinctive. Think about our world without the many big names that we currently know of and it would be just another product. Like it or not our choices are based on the type trademark that we see, its what makes commerce exciting, competitive and rewarding.

Industrial Design

Industrial design is an applied art whereby the aesthetics and usability of products may be improved. Design aspects specified by the industrial designer may include the overall shape of the object, but must not be dictated solely or essentially by technical or functional considerations. Lets take another look at one of the best Industrial Designs.

The Bulgari’s descent came from an ancient family of Greek silversmiths, whose activity began in a small village in Epirus, where Sotirio, the founder of the family made precious objects in silver. At the very beginning Sotirio sold his objects in front of the French Academy on the Pincio. On seeing his merchandise a Greek merchant offered to let him display his objects in a corner of his store, which became very successful, thanks to the original style of the ornaments that he was selling.

Reaping from his success, Bulgari was able to open his own store and start promoting his original line of selected jewels and accessories for personal embellishment. While his business was succeeding Sotirio had successfully opened other establishments and was operating from multi establishments. However the summer months were very quiet and realising this Sotirio decided to focus on his store in Rome to maximise his profits in the art of jewellery and silver making.

The first decades of the 20^th century were important to Bulgari’s sons as they developed a passionate interest in precious stones and jewellery and learnt the secrets of the trade, gradually taking over the father’s role.

The year1970 marked the beginning of Bvlgari International expansion with the opening of stores in New York, Paris, Geneva and Monte Carlo. Today Bvlgari has over 155 stores worldwide and have implemented a diversification strategy with the introduction of fragrances to boost its international expansion. The Bvlgari creations, renowned for the distinctive, bold and contemporary style of designs are appreciated by an international clientele fond of high quality and unique design.

Bvlgari is just one of the examples of Industrial Design. But lets explore further, the perfume or cologne use also has a shape, also the clothes you wear, the car you drive is certainly different to many other cars that are also available in today’s world. Could imagine how life would be if all commodities in life looked the same way, it would be a boring life more to say a lack of creativity. Industrial Designs demonstrate creativity and encourages one of the greatest powers given to man; the powers of choice.

Copyright and Related Rights

Copyright is an exclusive right granted by government for a limited time to protect the particular form, way or manner in which an idea or information is expressed. Copyright may subsist in a wide range of creative or artistic forms or “works”, including literary works, movies, musical works, sound recordings, paintings, photographs, software, and industrial designs. Let’s look at a poem, one that I personally wrote. This poem is an expression of my thoughts, and once expressed it became copyrighted to exclude others from using it as their own.

The Secret Behind Success

I awake out of my slumber to see the light

My first lesson was my first flight

I thought the world was all green and blue

I really couldn’t tell, can you?

To fly was my greatest ambition

Determined I decided to make it my mission

At times I would rise and fall

But one thing for sure I give it my all

At last I began to soar

The trials of the past was no more

At last I had finally succeeded

I had gone way beyond the expected

The greatest minds are led by innovation

Tolerance, production and great determination

A positive attitude promotes a successful spirit

Never give up; it’s the will that does it.

This poem is just one of the many things that can be copyrighted. Think about the favourite books you like to read or the favourite movies you like to watch, they are all governed by Copyright. This form allows for authors to be fairly rewarded for the hard work that they do. Think about it would it be fair for someone to put all their hard work into a project and eventaully lose the recognition and financial reward that comes with its success. No it wouldn’t. That’s solely the reason why Copyright exists.

Conclusion

In conclusion Intellectual Property protects tangible forms of work in various disciplines. Just like Thomas Edison, John Pemberton and Solirio Bulgari these men had ideas that were expressed in tangible forms that benefit society today. At the heart of Intellectual Property is always an idea to be expressed. Without these ideas, this world would have never progressed beyond primitive lifestyles. Let us think, create and innovate; making the world a better place to live in. Always remember that it begins with and idea; but don’t stop there be couragous nuture it and one day it will bear fruit.