There is a complex and multi-faceted system of law in place related to the protection of intellectual property rights. 

Depending on the nature of the rights, you may wish to seek a patent, register a trademark, register a design or identify unregistered rights such as copyrights, design rights and common law rights in passing off (related to trademarks), or any number of more obscure rights such as plant variety rights, circuit topography rights or performance rights.

Confidential information is usually kept confidential during disclosure via a Confidentiality Agreement or a Non-Disclosure Agreement; this is an alternative to keeping it a secret. The unauthorised disclosure of confidential material is potentially actionable as a breach of confidence. If you want to discuss material which you later want to file a patent application on, it is essential that the prior conversations you have are confidential, as non-confidential disclosures could affect the novelty of the information in a patent application and make it invalid as a result. 

If you have any questions or would like to speak to an intellectual property specialist, please call Jonathan Perlmutter on 01206 217620 for a free consultation. Visit business intellectual property solicitors for more information.