The table below compares the four types of intellectual property (IP) protection to help our customers take the best-suited decision. In the bottom of the table, you will see the Price and Full Package Details links for each protection type. Follow these links to get free quotes for each type of protection designed in the form of all-inclusive packages.
Make sure you also check our special All-Inclusive Packages – by Intellectual Property Objects that we recommend as a smart strategy to protect you brand, product or website with 5 plans available for each package at your choice.
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Copyright Protection | Trademark Protection | (Industrial) Design Protection | Trade Secrets Protection | |
Definition | Copyright – rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Copyrightable works range from books, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, databases, maps, advertisements, and technical drawings. | Trademark – any signs represented graphically, words, personal names, designs, letters, numerals, shape of goods or packaging, provided they are capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other. | (Industrial) design – the appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials of the product itself and/or its ornamentation. | Trade secrets – any confidential business information, which provides an enterprise a competitive edge. Trade secrets encompass manufacturing or industrial secrets and commercial secrets. |
Registration (protection) type | Registered with copyright depository and witnessed by copyright certificate | Registered with Trademark Office and witnessed by trademark certificate | Registered with Patent Office and witnessed by (industrial) design certificate | Protected by company internal regulation, contractual obligations, and introduction of confidentiality regime |
Territory of protection | International protection in 169 countries of the Berne Convention | Regional protection (EU registration) or National protection in a selected country | Regional protection (EU registration) or National protection in a selected country | International and national protection under TRIPS Agreement, Paris Convention and national laws (although enforcement is highly challenging at international level) |
Who is it ideal for? | Authors, writers, composers, designers, architects, artists, etc. | Business entities, brand and product owners | Inventors, designers | Business entities, franchisers |
Duration of rights | Author’s life + 50/70 years * | 10 years + indefinite renewals = unlimited | 5-15 years (country-specific) | Unlimited (until revealed to public) |
Renewable after expiry? | No | Yes, perpetually, every 10 years | Yes, up to 25 years | No |
Maintenance | 5 or 10 years (at client’s choice) | In few countries (annualized) | Yes, annualized | No obligations, defined by company |
Maintenance renewability | Every 5/10 years (at client’s choice) | In few countries (every year, subj. to official fees) | Usually every 5 years (subject to official fees) | No obligations, defined by company |
Registration speed | 1-3 working days | 6-12 months (country-specific, given no objections or oppositions are filed) | 4-10 months (country-specific, given no objections or oppositions are filed) | 5-20 working days (case-specific) |
Strength of protection | Relatively strong (some limitations in trade and manufacturing; strong in other areas) | Strong within registered territories and industries (Nice classes) | Strong within registered territories and all industries | Limited |
Disclosure requirement | Not required | Disclosed | Disclosed | Not disclosed (by definition) |
Limited to industries? | NO | YES (Limited to Nice classes registered for) | NO (Covers all goods and services) | NO (Covers all goods and services) |
Notice symbol | © (reads as “copyright”) | ® (read as “registered trademark”) | Ⓓ (reads as “registered design”) | “CONFIDENTIAL” or similar marking as defined |
Protection cost | ● ○ ○ (Usually € 150 – 250) | ● ● ● (Usually € 700 – 2000) | ● ● ● (Usually € 900 – 1500) | ● ● ○ (Usually € 500 – 1500) |
Eligible items (objects eligible for protection) |
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(subject to specific eligibility criteria: |
Ready-made Package Solutions |  |  |  |  |
For package prices refer to our Prices page |