Industrial Property / IP

© BDI / F.Richter

Intellectual and industrial property embrace the legal safeguarding of intellectual efforts in the various fields of industry (patents, utility models, brands, designs, etc.). It also includes copyrights, which are used to protect not only intellectual creations of a cultural nature, but also those used in industrial applications, e.g. software, furniture, etc.

These rights grant the beneficiary the privilege to benefit from the fruits of his intellectual efforts. In return – and this is particularly true for patents –, one discloses the invention to the public, enabling it to profit from the progress made.

BDI has always advocated strong industrial property and IP rights. It is crucial for the public as well as for businesses to render intellectual achievements in forms of research and development profitable. Property rights ensure the attractiveness of innovation. Lack of legal protection would draw others to imitate these ideas. And, as a consequence, those who were creative would be deprived of their achievements and investments.

The enforcement of property rights on a day-to-day basis is a crucial task. There is no difference between the violation of intellectual property and the violation of material property. This is why the instruments to protect and enforce intellectual property have to be effective, practical and affordable.