home / ip basics
 

There are various forms of Intellectual Property (IP) including Patents, Designs, Copyright and Trade Marks. IP is the product of the mind and like any form of property, when legally protected, can be sold or rented (or more correctly "licensed") to generate income.

If you have an idea that is a technical invention (e.g. a new product or process) and novelty can be demonstrated, then it may be appropriate for patenting. It is important to keep your idea or invention CONFIDENTIAL as any public disclosure would compromise your claim to novelty.

A patent gives its owner for a limited time period, the monopoly right to exploit the invention within a defined territory. Generating IP and then protecting it through patenting is at the core of TfI's business. We engage a leading patent attorney firm, Tomkins & Co, to support and advise our company throughout our evaluation and development process.

If you would like to find out more about patents and the support available to researchers, check out our links page.