An intellectual property lawyer in the Isle of Man is able to assist all company owners interested in registering trademarks, patents or other recognized categories of intellectual property. The protection of these rights is guaranteed in order to encourage the creation of these works as well as to serve the purpose of specific industries in which patents and designs are important for manufacturing.
The Isle of Man Government allows for the protection of intellectual property and there are a sound legislative framework is in place for this purpose.
Offshore company formation in the Isle of Man is attractive for many foreign investors because of the island’s close proximity to the European Union and the generally favorable conditions for doing business. The Intellectual Property (IP) regime is important in the context of an attractive business climate and, for the purpose of providing a comprehensive regime, the Island of Man has adopted some of the European Union principles on IP protection even though it is not part of the EU.
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Intellectual property categories
There are several recognized types of intellectual property categories and these are:
- Copyright: the written, audio or video creations which allow the owner to be the sole user.
- Trademarks: the slogans, names or combinations of number, colors, etc., used to identify a company or service.
- Patents: the manner in which an inventor can protect his creation.
- Designs: these can be industrial or functional designs as well as ornamental designs.
As far as the protection rights are concerned, these differ according to category. They can be summarized as such:
- Copyright: the rights do not depend on registration, the copyright enters into effect as soon as the work is created.
- Trademark: this is protected for ten years, with the possibility for an indefinite renewal, after registration with the Intellectual Property Office.
- Patents: they can be protected for twenty years once they are registered with the Intellectual Property Office.
- Designs: these can be protected without registration for 15 years (or ten years after their first issuance on the market) – the period applies to industrial or functional designs.
Entrepreneurs who are interested in more details about these periods can reach out to our Isle of Man company formation agents for detailed information.
An intellectual property lawyer in the Isle of Man can help answer more detailed questions about intellectual property protection in the Isle of Man and the UK as well as abroad.
IP rights protection in the Isle of Man
The protection of copyrights, trademarks and all of the aforementioned categories is possible through a comprehensive legal framework designed by the Isle of Man government to meet the needs of businesspeople and to be in line with the main EU regulations on this matter. Most of the laws are passed by the Isle of Man Government, with others extending from the UK Parliament. Although the Isle of Man is not part of the European Union, its laws and regulations on the protection of intellectual property are in line with the EU measure. This is a measure that allows and encourages investors from the EU to do business in the Isle of Man.
Many of the existing IP rights treaties that have been concluded internationally by the United Kingdom also apply to the Isle of Man. Examples include the Paris Convention for the Protection of the Industrial Property, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Patent Co-operation Treaty, the Madrid Protocol and others. Some of these treaties allow for a beneficial regime in which a trademark that is registered in one country can be available simultaneously in other countries.
Investors interested in offshore company formation can benefit from working with an intellectual property lawyer in the Isle of Man. Talking to an expert allows investors to understand the manner in which they can protect the name of their brand and products, their inventions, the unique design of their products as well as any other items they produce or create. Working with IP lawyers can also help those who are interested in obtaining a patent or who are involved in an IP dispute. IP rights need to be renewed in order to remain in force and this is another area in which a specialist can help business owners maintain their rights.
Apart from IP law matters, our team can also provide other solutions for businesses. When working with our accountants in the Isle of Man, you can rest assured that the company submits the annual return with the Companies Registry in due time and that it also complies with the other requirements. Please contact us if you want to know more about the accounting principles in the Isle of Man.
Investors who wish to know more about offshore company formation in the Isle of Man, as well as those who wish to work with local specialists, can contact us for more information on how we can assist entrepreneurs.