I have participated in a course on intellectual property rights. My key learning points were:

• There are various types of IPR: Copyright, registered trademarks, registered designs, patents, and trade secrets.

• Copyright protects text, pictures, artworks, songs, source code, and similar creative works. This right is automatically granted to the author and typically lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years (depending on jurisdiction). Others may use the work under certain conditions, such as for citation, personal use, or under fair use/fair dealing exceptions.

• Registered trademarks can be registered for specific product groups or classes. They can include text, logos, sounds, and even colors. To maintain a trademark, it must be actively used in commerce.

• Registered designs protect the appearance of products, including shapes, patterns, and graphical user interfaces.

• Patents protect the commercial use of technical inventions for a limited time (usually 20 years). The owner must file a patent application, pay fees, and may need to defend the patent if challenged or infringed.

• You can lose the possibility to patent an idea if it becomes public before filing. Public disclosure can include presenting the idea at a conference, publishing it, or even discussing it in a public space.

• Trade secrets remain protected as long as they are kept confidential. To preserve the possibility of patenting, avoid disclosing the idea publicly and maintain secrecy.

And the best tip was:

• If you plan a project that might later become a company and you already have a great name for it, acquire a suitable domain before the project becomes public. Buying and maintaining a domain is inexpensive, but if someone else registers it first, they might try to sell it to you at a much higher price.