Technology

This section covers protection and commercialization of new products, manufacturing processes and services.

Products and processes are reasonably well protected by patents and in the UK, at least, by unregistered design rights. Computer software may be protected by copyright and confidence and occasionally by patents. Semiconductor topographies are protected by regulations unregistered design right. New plant varieties are protected by national plant breeders' and EC plant varieties rights.

Services are less easy to protect. Sometimes things used in delivering services can be patented or protected by design law. Sometimes, it is necessary to rely on trade secrecy.