Intellectual property is a creation of the mind that a business may want to protect. In SPM Business you explain what each type covers and apply it to a case, without stating legal rules from memory.
This lesson is part of SPM Business physical and technological resources. It pairs with selecting resources for a business need, since ideas are also a business resource.
Which concept covers what?
| Concept | Covers | Simple example |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Creative works | A photograph, a song, a batik drawing |
| Trademark | A name or logo that identifies a business | The name and logo of a shop |
| Patent | A new invention | A new way a machine folds cloth |
Ask, “Is this a creative work, a label, or an invention?” The answer points to the concept.
How does it work in one case?
Kak Lin runs Batik Lin. She draws an original flower pattern for her fabric. She also uses the shop name and a small logo on her labels. Her friend designs a machine that prints patterns with less dye.
The flower pattern is a creative work, so copyright is the concept. The shop name and logo identify her goods, so the concept is a trademark. The printing machine is a new invention, so a patent is the concept.
What does an applied answer sound like?
A definition says, “A trademark is a sign that identifies goods.” An applied answer says, “Batik Lin’s name and logo are a trademark, because they let customers recognise her fabric among others. If another seller copied the logo, customers might be misled, so Kak Lin may wish to protect it.”
The answer names the concept, uses the case and states why the business cares. It does not state legal rules or promise an outcome.
What should you leave to official sources?
Questions on how to register, how long rights last and what counts as infringement have real, current answers. Check them on the official website of the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia and ask a qualified person about a real situation.
In an exam answer, write the concept and the business reason. If a question seems to need a rule, use the wording the question supplies.
Which mistakes cost marks?
- Using “copyright” for a logo or a machine. Match the concept to the thing protected.
- Stating how many years protection lasts from memory.
- Saying a business is “fully protected”, which promises more than a concept can.
Check yourself
A fictional bakery invents a recipe book of original cake designs, names its shop “Kek Mawar” with a rose logo, and develops a new oven that bakes with less electricity. Match each to a concept.
Answer
The recipe book is a creative work, so copyright. The name and rose logo identify the shop, so trademark. The new oven is an invention, so patent. Each match follows the question: creative work, label, or invention.
What to study next
Test the cluster with the practice set, or return to comparing technology choices using supplied criteria.
If you want a teacher to go through concept-matching cases with you, see online one-to-one Business tuition.