Intellectual property (IP) refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions (patents); literary and artistic works (copyright); new product designs (industrial designs); and brand-names, symbols, or logos used to distinguish products and services from one undertaking from another (trade marks).
IP is a powerful tool for individuals and enterprises to help control their property rights. Ireland has in place a strong legal framework and intellectual property system that offers IP right holders the opportunity to be rewarded for their creativity and innovation and enabling society at large and the economy to benefit from their achievements.
Formal IP rights include patents, trade marks and industrial designs so called because they can be registered. Copyright is a different type of intellectual property relating to creations of the mind and is seen in everyday life in creative works such as books, films, music, art and software, as well as in more mundane objects such as cars, computers and medicines. Other types of informal IP rights include Plant Variety Rights, Geographical Indications of Origin, Trade Secrets and Topographies of Integrated circuits. For further information please see other IP Rights.
The Intellectual Property Unit of the Department is responsible for Ireland’s policy and legislation on IP that reflects developments in intellectual property policy and practice domestically, at EU level and in terms of international obligations to which Ireland is committed through various international agreements.
The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland is responsible for the granting of patents; the registration of industrial designs and trade marks; and has certain functions in relation to copyright and related rights.
What’s current in Intellectual Property
World Intellectual Property Day – 26 April 2023
We celebrate World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April in order to highlight the role that IP rights, such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and copyright play in encouraging innovation and creativity. World IP Day provides an opportunity to join forces with people all around the world to consider how IP rights supports and rewards inventors and creators for their time, work and ingenuity in developing new technologies and new forms of creative expression that improve and enrich our lives.
Further information on World IP Day 2023 can be found on WIPO: World Intellectual Property Day 2023 – Celebrating Creativity and Innovation.
Further information on how to protect your intellectual property rights can be found on Intellectual Property Office of Ireland.