Chapter 18 Intellectual property

This chapter introduces key intellectual property rights relevant in particular to the UK and the European Union. It comprises information relating to trade marks, copyright, designs, patents, the law of confidentiality and a note on digital media and the internet. In each case it includes a discussion about the scope of those rights, their registration (where applicable), the duration of the rights, how they are infringed, and some defences against infringement, together with an explanation of the remedies available if the rights are found to have been infringed. The principles are illustrated with practical examples relevant to the construction industry.