A basic prerequisite for inventors and other innovators to be able to prevent others from using their invention, design or sign, is that they have acquired some form of exclusive right to it. A product can be covered by more than one intellectual property right. A design, for example, can be covered by both design protection and copyright. An invention, for example, can be protected by a patent and its distinctive sign by trademark protection. You can find more information about these exclusive rights in our main menu.

What can I do if someone infringes my exclusive right?

If an owner of an intellectual property right believes that someone is infringing their exclusive right, there are a number of different strategies and ways to prevent the infringement. In some cases, the infringer is not aware of any prior right and it can be enough to simply tell them that you have an exclusive right to the invention or design in question. In other cases, however, infringement takes place with full knowledge of a prior right. In those cases, you can be forced to take legal action, such as notify the prosecution of the crime or begin legal proceedings in the public courts.

For guidance and advice in the event of infringement, we recommend that you contact an attorney.