Architects and other actors in the architecture sector must understand the importance of Intellectual property (IP) rights and be aware of the consequences they might face in case they infringe third parties’ rights.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Architecture sector:

  • Keep your sketches, drawings, etc. secret, and never disclose them until you have taken the necessary measures to prove your ownership of the material.
  • Copyright is one of the core IP rights for the architecture sector, which grants rights to the creators for their architectural, sculptural, pictorial, and graphic works. General drawings and blueprints, preliminary plans, sections, elevations, floor plans, construction plans, rough models, models of internal support, models of external appearance, photomontages of the building against backdrops, computer-generated images of a design, constructed buildings, etc. can all be protected by copyright as long as they are original.
  • The aesthetic and visual characteristics of architectural works (e.g., the layout of a building, ornaments on a tile, etc.) can be protected by design, on the condition that these design characteristics are novel and original.
  • An architectural work can be subject to both copyright and design protection (cumulation of IP rights) in some countries. National rules may have different regulations on such, therefore it is always best to check with a local IP professional.
  • The names of the architectural works, as well as any other signs used to identify them (i.e., for branding), may also be protected with trademarks as long as they fall into the trademark protection requirements.
  • If the architectural design involves a technical invention (e.g., an opening/closing mechanism of a bridge), it might be protected by a patent if this invention fulfils patenting conditions.
  • If you are using a third-party element in your architectural work, or intend to do so, it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of that element in order not to infringe on the IP rights of the third parties, which otherwise may result in serious consequences for your business.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

Artistic design and craft makers regenerate materials such as ceramics, glass, textiles, wood and metal with their creative skills.
Being one of the frontiers in the CCIs, they must pay attention to intellectual property (IP) rights not only for protecting their rights or making money out of their creations but also to avoid infringing the rights of third parties.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Artistic crafts sector:

  • Your artistic ideas must be kept confidential and should not be disclosed until you have taken the necessary measures to prove your ownership of the representation(s) of these ideas.
  • Design is one of the most frequently used IP rights in the crafts sector. The original and novel outlook of the creations, such as shapes, ornaments, drawings, etc. can be protected as a design.
  • The artists of the crafts sector can also make use of copyright, which does not require any mandatory registration in the EU.
  • Trademarks protect signs that differentiate one product or service from another product or service. Therefore, for example, the names (brands) of creations may also be protected as trademarks as long as they meet the trademark protection requirements.
  • If your creation has a technical and inventive character, it may be subject to patent protection, which provides 20 years of monopoly over your invention to restrict others to use it without your permission.
  • If you are using a third-party element in your craft work (e.g. an ornament), or intend to do so, it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of that element in order not to infringe on third parties’ IP rights, which otherwise may result in serious consequences for your business.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

Intellectual property (IP) is central for most -if not all- of the actors working in the audiovisual sector. For directors, performers, screenwriters, costume designers, producers, content managers, YouTubers, social media influencers, podcasters, and many more, IP management principles must be carefully considered.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Audiovisual sector:

  • Keep your scripts, outlines, designs, original contents and all relevant intellectual assets a secret, and never disclose them until you have taken necessary measures to prove your ownership of the material. If you are producing original (thus, copyrightable) content, think about adding a copyright notice (example: © name, surname, year) to inform third parties about your rights.
  • Do not forget that copyright and the neighbouring rights are the key IP rights for the audiovisual sector, granting actors/actresses, directors, content owners, screenwriters, etc. the right to reproduce, adapt, perform, display, re-work and distribute their own content and product (e.g. a movie, a podcast, social media content) and restrict the third parties to do so without his/her permission. By licensing out (granting permission to your content) to third parties (e.g. production companies, distribution companies, etc.), the actors of this sector generate income.
  • The names of the audiovisual products such as names of the movies, podcast or YouTube channels, and any other signs used to identify your work (e.g. jingles) may also be protected through a trademark registration as long as it meets the relevant requirements.
  • Visual elements of audiovisual products (e.g. movie posters) can be protected by design as long as they meet the design protection criteria.
  • If your activity involves a technical invention, this might be protected by a patent if this invention fulfils patenting conditions.
  • Respecting the rights of third parties is a crucial issue, especially for audiovisual sector. If you are using a third-party element in your content (e.g. a piece of music, a part of a movie, an image, etc.), or intend to do so, it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of that element in order not to infringe on third parties’ IP rights, which otherwise may result in serious consequences for your business.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

The protection and preservation of cultural heritage is vital for the preservation of humanity's history and identity. Intellectual property (IP) rights play a crucial role in this process by providing legal tools to protect and control the use of cultural heritage related materials.
Actors in the cultural heritage sector, such as museums, archives, historical societies, and libraries, are increasingly recognising the importance of IP in their work and are taking steps to protect it. Even if, very often, the content of collections is not entitled to IP protection anymore (as protection term has lapsed), the resources created around them might be. For instance, the integrity, the authority, and the ability to contextualise the content of collections is probably the most valuable IP that a museum may possess, and that might be protectable with IP rights. By understanding and utilising IP rights, actors in the Cultural heritage sector can then better protect and preserve their work.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Cultural heritage sector:

  • Keep detailed records of all your productions, such as tangible products associated with the institution, photographic images of artefacts and artworks in collections, audio recordings, publications, multimedia productions, databases of information about collections, title of exhibitions and programmes, etc. This will help you to prove ownership and authenticity if necessary.
  • Copyright is an important intellectual property right for the cultural heritage sector, as it covers the rights to reproduce, distribute, and display cultural heritage (related) materials. It's important to be aware of copyright laws and regulations and to obtain permission from copyright holders before reproducing or displaying any copyrighted materials.
  • Trademarks may also be relevant for the cultural heritage sector, as they can be used to protect the names, logos, and other identifying marks associated with cultural heritage institutions, name of exhibitions and collections.
  • In some cases, design can also be a relevant IP protection route, in case there is a need to protect an original aesthetical character of a product such as an original exhibition catalogue layout (only the layout of the book, not the heritage photographs), products created for commercial development, new designs inspired by collections, etc.
  • Cultural heritage materials may also be protected by national laws related to cultural property, such as laws that prohibit the unauthorised export or import of cultural heritage materials, or the use of name and image from traditional cultural resources. It is important to be aware of these national laws and to obtain the necessary permissions before working with, exporting or importing cultural heritage materials.
  • If you are displaying or exhibiting cultural heritage materials, it is important to ensure that they are properly cared for and protected. This includes providing appropriate environmental conditions, proper handling and storage, and adequate security measures to prevent theft or damage.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

The Design and fashion sector is one of the most Intellectual property (IP)-relevant sectors, and therefore has a central role in safeguarding the rights of the actors in this domain.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Design and fashion sector:

  • Design sketches, drawings, design pieces, production prototypes, photographs, etc. are typical intellectual property assets generated in this sector. Proving and keeping the ownership of these materials is important; it is, therefore, essential to keep these items secret until you have taken necessary measures to protect your rights.
  • As the name refers, design protection is the most commonly used IP rights in this sector since the sector is based on products having aesthetic and visual characteristic such as fashion designs, photographs, etc. For this reason, design protection must always be kept in mind when considering the protection of those assets.
  • The unregistered design protection system, which provides maximum 3 years of protection in the EU, can be a very useful alternative to the registered design system (up to 25 years of protection), especially for short-term fashion items such as in textile fashion or seasonal designs.
  • As in all cultural and creative sectors, copyright can also be used as an effective IP protection tool in this sector to protect artistic designs, photographic works, advertisements and communication materials, etc. as long as these products meet the copyright protection requirements.
  • The names of the designs and design collections, designer companies, designers (if it is used as branding), and other brands (including jingles, 3D materials, holograms, etc.) can be protected as a trademark if these signs meet the trademark protection criteria.
  • Patent protection may also be considered if a design product has technical and inventive features and fulfils patenting conditions.
  • If you're using (or intending to use) a third-party element in your design or fashion work, such as a song in a fashion show, i's important to clarify the IP ownership and status to avoid infringing on third parties' rights. Failure to do so can result in serious consequences for your business.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

Fairs and festivals bring not only products and services but also performers and artists together. These products, services and artistic performances turn the festival and fair arenas into a huge intellectual property (IP) market where the IP owners must be careful in protecting their assets and respecting the IP rights of others.

Therefore, we have prepared some quick tips for you to consider when organising or visiting festivals or fairs.

  • As an exhibitor, it is always recommended not to display any original work before you have taken the necessary steps for protection. One of the exceptions to this practice is the “unregistered design protection” which provides you with three years of protection over your original and novel designs as of the date of disclosure. Besides, there is also a one-year grace period for registered designs where the designer’s (owner’s) disclosure is not detrimental to registration (novelty) in the EU. Nevertheless, these exceptions are only valid for design protection (protection of the visual elements) and their implementation rules may vary from country to country. Therefore, it is always best to consult a local IP professional before disclosing any unprotected IP asset in an exhibition or at a fair.
  • The above suggestion is particularly important for patent protection as there is no grace period for this IP right. Therefore, if the product or service you will exhibit involves a novel invention, prototype, a technical/scientific formula which can be protected through a patent, it is strongly recommended not to disclose that item without filing patent application for it. Under some circumstances, it is possible to disclose that invention at a fair, and use that disclosure as an “exhibition priority” for future patent application, however, remember that this is an exception and not valid for all exhibitions.
  • In some exhibitions and fairs, there are lawyers/experts available to help in case of IP-related disputes which may take place during the course of the exhibition. If you have any questions on any IP rights or any issues in possible infringement cases, it is strongly advised to contact them or the exhibition management before contacting the alleged infringer.
  • The names of the products or services or companies, and any other signs and/or branding which define the products or services you are exhibiting can be trademark protected if these signs meet trademark protection requirements.
  • Copyright is also one of the most common IP rights in your sector. It is an unregistrable right, however, it is important to keep documents showing that you disclose your products which may be subject to copyright protection, in that particular exhibition on that particular date (photographs, news items, etc.), and that may help you in proving ownership and priority dates.
  • If you are using any third-party material in your exhibit (e.g. a video or a piece of music), it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of that element in order not to infringe third-party’s IP rights, which otherwise may result in serious consequences for your business.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

Literature, books, media and press sectors are at the heart of copyright as copyright protects literary and artistic works. However, it is not the only relevant Intellectual property (IP) right for these sectors. Trademarks, designs and even patents can be a part of this sector.

To learn more, here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Literature, books, media and press sectors:

  • Being an unregistrable right which protects literary works, copyright is the most common IP right in these sectors. It protects the moral rights of the author (such as integrity of the work, and the author’s paternity) and the economic rights (such as reproduction and representation rights). However, it should be noted that in order to enjoy copyright protection, an idea must be expressed in a perceptible form (e.g. as a book, a novel, or an article) and must be original. Mere ideas of stories without any formal expression cannot be protected.
  • As ideas are not protected by copyright (or any other IP right), it is important not to disclose such ideas without taking any protection steps, as someone might steal your ideas.
  • Similarly, any drawings, pictures, photos or design elements (e.g. the book cover) in a publication can be protected by copyright and/or by a design, as long as these items meet the protection criteria. It should be noted that these visual design elements may both enjoy copyright and design protection (cumulation of rights). National rules may have different regulations on such, therefore it is always best to contact a local IP professional.
  • The name of your publication (newspaper, book, magazine, newsletter, etc.), publication company, logos, and any other signs which you use for its branding can be protected by a trade mark if they meet the trademark protection requirements.
  • If your press activity involves a technical invention (e.g. a novel press machine), this invention might be protected by a patent if it fulfils patenting conditions.
  • If you are using a third-party element in your literary work (e.g. a painting on your book cover, use of a copyright-protected letter font, a graphic in your article, etc.), or intend to do so, it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of that element in order not to infringe third parties’ IP rights.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

It is crucial for musicians, music performers, composers and all other actors working in the music sector to take all necessary steps to protect their intellectual assets.

Here are some quick tips about intellectual property (IP) protection in the Music sector:

  • Keep your notes, music lyrics, recordings, etc. a secret, and never disclose them until you take necessary measures to prove your ownership of the material.
  • Copyright is the key IP right for the music sector which grants rights to the authors and owners of musical works to reproduce, adapt, perform, display, re-work and distribute their own music, and restrict the third parties to do so without their permission. The music sector generates income by managing, exploiting, administering and licensing copyrights.
  • The names of the songs or albums, jingles and any other signs used to identify your work (i.e. branding) may also be protected as a trademark as long as it falls into the trademark protection requirements.
  • Visual elements of musical products (e.g. album covers) can be protected by design as long as they meet the design protection criteria.
  • If your musical activity involves a technical invention, this might be protected by a patent if this invention fulfils patenting conditions.
  • If you are using a third-party element in your musical work (e.g. a musical piece), or intend to do so, it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of that element in order not to infringe third parties’ IP rights, which otherwise may result in serious consequences for your business.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

The performing arts sector encompasses a wide range of creative and technical works, from plays and musicals to dance performances and live concerts. Intellectual property (IP) rights play a crucial role in protecting and preserving the rights of creators, performers, and producers of performing arts works.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Performing arts sector:

  • There are many elements which can be subject to copyright protection in the performing arts sector. Choreography, music, scripts, and the performance of the art piece (e.g. orchestration, staging, storyline, etc.) can all be protected by copyright as long as they are original and fixed in a tangible form. Therefore, performers and creators (authors) of these works can acquire rights to reproduce, adapt, perform, display, re-work and distribute their work, and restrict third parties from using their work without permission.
  • To prevent any leakage or theft, you are strongly recommended to keep your notes, ideas, sketches, etc. confidential until you have taken the necessary measures to prove your ownership of the material. Keep in mind that copyright is an unregistered right in Europe, and it is important to be able to prove ownership and priority dates in case of an infringement case.
  • The names of performances, characters and any icons or signs (including 3D products such as puppets) used in the performance may also be protected as trademarks as long as they meet the trademark protection requirements.
  • Visual elements of your performance (e.g. set designs, puppets, posters) can be protected by design as long as they meet the design protection criteria.
  • While it is not highly relevant in this sector, if your performance involves any technical inventions, these may be protected through patents if they meet the patenting criteria.
  • When using third-party elements in your work (e.g. a piece of music in your play, or a known character in your script), it is important to clarify the IP ownership and status of those elements in order to avoid infringing third parties’ IP rights, which could result in serious consequences for your performance.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

The multimedia and video games sector is a fast-growing and innovative sector that relies heavily on the use of creative and technical works. Intellectual property (IP) rights, such as copyright, trademark, design rights, and patent protection, play a crucial role in protecting and preserving the rights of creators, developers, and publishers of multimedia and video games.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Videogames and multimedia sector:

  • Keep your notes, content, format ideas, recordings, and software codes a secret, and be sensitive about their disclosure until you take necessary measures to prove your ownership of these materials.
  • Copyright is one of the core IP rights for this sector, as the products developed in this sector relate to artistic/creative (the contents) and literary (software) work. Copyright will provide the creator with the right to make use of their work and restrict others from exploiting it without the creator's permission. The content creators and developers may generate income through managing, exploiting, administering, and licensing their copyrights.
  • It should be noted that copyright does not protect ideas themselves but the expression of the ideas, as long as they are original. Therefore, the creator may have copyright protection on the format of the content (e.g. a written or recorded format), the produced video, or the game.
  • The names of the formats, shows, video channels, video games, application logos, music, video game (3D) characters, character names, and other signs that identify the product may also be protected as trademarks as long as they meet the trademark protection requirements.
  • Visual elements of these products (e.g. design of a game character) can be protected by design as long as they meet the design protection criteria.
  • It is worth mentioning software products in this field separately as there are different IP protection ways (IP titles) to protect them. Apart from trademarks (for the signs that identify the product, such as a mobile application name or logo), designs (for the visual elements of the product, such as application logos, a scene in a game, or a graphical interface), and copyright (for the source and object codes, the system architecture, or the preparatory design material of a game), patenting is another common option in this domain. However, the software must involve a technical contribution beyond the "normal" physical interactions between the program and the computer. As there is still an evolving literature and national and international case law on that, it is important to contact a local IP professional about the patentability of software products.
  • It must not be forgotten that the third-party elements in your multimedia work (e.g. a music piece in your video channel, pieces of videos or video clips you are showing in your streaming, music, brands, designs, and other IP assets in your video game) may be under the ownership of a third party, which means that the use of these IP assets without getting permission from the owner may constitute infringement. Therefore, it is extremely important to clarify the IP ownership and status of those elements in your work to avoid infringing on third party IP rights.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.

The visual arts sector encompasses a wide range of creative work, from painting and sculpture to graphic design and illustration. As creators and owners of such works, visual artists have the right to control how their work is used and distributed. Intellectual property (IP) rights, such as copyright, trademark, and design rights, play a crucial role in protecting and preserving the rights of visual artists. These rights enable visual artists to control the reproduction, distribution, and display of their work, and to receive compensation for its use by others.

Here are some quick tips about IP protection in the Visual arts sector:

  • Especially for illustrators, designers, or sculptors, it is very important to keep the early sketches of your work secret until you take the necessary measures to prove your ownership of the material and prove the priority dates. Otherwise, these drawings can be susceptible to theft, and it might then be very difficult to prove the ownership of IP rights.
  • As in all other creative sectors, Copyright is the central IP right for the visual arts sector, which grants rights related to the commercial exploitation of the work (a.k.a. economic rights) and moral rights (e.g. paternity and integrity). It is possible for visual artists to ask for compensation in return for their permission to use their work by third parties.
  • The names of the art pieces, or the companies, or in some cases even the artwork itself (a sculpture in 3D for instance) can be protected as a trademark on the condition that it meets the trademark protection requirements.
  • Visual elements of the artwork can be protected by design as long as they meet the design protection criteria; originality and novelty, namely.
  • Although not very common, if your activity involves a technical invention, this might be protected by a patent if this invention meets patenting conditions.
  • It is important to respect the rights of third parties when creating a visual art piece and consider any potential infringement claims. Although it is not directly related to IP (but to portrait/image rights), when taking a photograph (or making a sculpture) of a person, it is essential to respect the right to privacy, and if these artworks will be exhibited to the public, it is crucial to get permission from those people whose visuals will be disclosed (in the case of minors, parental permission has to be obtained). There might be some exceptions to this rule, for example, in the case this photograph is published as a part of a news item, but these exceptions and rules must be consulted with an IP professional, since national rules may vary by jurisdiction.
  • Another important point to underline is about artistic visualisation of items that may have third parties’ IP rights attached to them (e.g., taking a photograph, sculpturing or illustrating an architectural building, branded images, design objects, etc.). Basically, you should make sure that you respect the economic rights of the copyright owner of that object if these works are not in the public domain. These issues are generally handled by national laws and therefore it is always recommended to consult a local IP professional when you have doubts about the use of a third-party element in your visual works.

Please note that it is highly recommended to seek legal advice from local IP professionals and consult your national IP and/or copyright office in order to ensure compliance with the specific laws and rules of your country.