Main forms of industriële property

Patent
A patent protects new and inventive products and methods.
As a rule a patent application must be filed before the invention is made public. A publication (on the internet, in a magazine or brochure) or public application (use, sale, demonstration or such like) before the filing of the application, even by the inventor him- or herself, in general negates the possibility of obtaining a valid patent.

Company name
This is the name of a company. The right to protection of a company accrues from using the name in commerce (such as registration with the chamber of commerce, on the internet, in advertising, on the letterheading etc.).

Trademark
A trademark is a sign (a word, logo, packaging) that a company can use with its products or services to distinguish these from those of other companies. The right to protection of a trademark is obtained after filing of an application and the registration of the trademark (Benelux trademark, European Union trademark, International trademark).

Copyright
This protects a range of things against copying, such as texts, drawings, works of art, photographs, manuals etc. Also the external appearance of a product (furniture, clothing) can be protected by copyright. Copyright protection is obtained automatically and offers worldwide protection. It may however be important to document (the creation process of) your work, so that when necessary proof can be submitted of the entitlement to the copyright.

Design
The external appearance of a product (shape or a pattern applied to the shape) can be protected as an unregistered or a registered design (Benelux design, Community design, International design.) To obtain a valid registered design an application should be filed within 12 months after the first publication.