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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR)Intellectual property rights refer to all rights, including but not limited to rights of registration or application for registration, relating to:
The following is a brief description of some common types of Intellectual Property Rights that can be generated: 1. Patents A patent is a proprietary right which may be obtained for an invention provided that the following criteria are satisfied:
The invention must be new in that it has not been revealed by the state of the art, involves an inventive step in that it is not obvious to a person skilled in the art and is capable of industrial application. 2. Trade Marks A trade mark is a sign, capable of being represented graphically, that serves to distinguish the goods or services provided by one proprietor from those of another. Trade marks can be registered in Singapore under the Trade Marks Act (Cap 332). 3. Registrable Designs Registrable designs can be registered in Singapore under the Registered Designs Act (Cap 266). A registrable design means features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament applied to an article through an industrial process. Registrable designs do not include the method, principle of construction, nor features of shape or configuration of an article, which are dictated solely by the function which the article performs. A registrable design does not include features that are dependent upon the appearance of another article, which it is intended to form an integral part of. They also exclude features that enable the article to be connected to, placed in, around or against another article so that either article may perform its functions. 4. Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits The Layout Designs of Integrated Circuits Act (Cap 159A) affords protection for circuit layouts. The owner of the 3-dimensional disposition of the elements of an integrated circuit is given monopoly rights to copy, authorise the copying and exploitation of the layout design. The period of protection is 10 years from the date the layout design was first commercially exploited if the layout design is commercialised within 5 years after the year in which it was created or in other cases, 15 years after the year in which it was created. 5. Tangible Research Property Tangible research property refers to research results in a tangible form , for example items such as materials, drawings, integrated circuit chips, computer software, computer and other databases, processes, prototypes and circuit diagrams. 6. Know-how, Trade Secrets and Confidential Information Know-how, trade secrets and confidential information refer to all information or data of a confidential nature (including all oral and visual information or data and all information or data recorded in writing or in any other medium or by any other method and all information which the Polytechnic is under an obligation, whether contractual or otherwise, not to divulge). Information can be confidential even when it is not specifically designated as “Confidential” IPR & YOU AS A STUDENTUnless otherwise set out in Republic Polytechnic’s Statement of Policy with regard to Intellectual Property Rights or expressly agreed in writing by the Polytechnic, the Polytechnic shall own all Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) developed and/or acquired by a student in the course of his/her course of study or research with the Polytechnic (e.g. during Final Year Projects). Furthermore, if any IPR remains vested or is likely to vest in a student, the Polytechnic may as a condition of allowing the student to participate in any course, project or activity require that the student assigns all present and future IPR relating to or affecting the activity concerned to the Polytechnic. If the student, upon request by the Polytechnic, declines or fails to assign his IPR to the Polytechnic, the Polytechnic may decline to permit the student to participate in the course, project or activity or subject the student’s participation in such course, project or activity to such terms and conditions as it deems fit. |