Ip who owns

Later known as Netscape , it was well-liked by computer novices for its ease of use. At this point, we must mention that though the Web and the internet are sometimes interchangeably used terms, they are not synonymous.

As the channel through which users access their favorite websites, the Web represents a massive part of the internet, but there is much more out there.

For that matter, the development of mobile devices and the networks designed for their traffic, Wi-Fi and the "cloud" would further galvanize internet expansion. In the strictest sense of that term? No one. No single individual or organization can claim either ownership or IP authorship of the entire internet — it is simply too large and multifaceted. From an IP perspective, some could attempt to claim rights to certain aspects of the internet if they were so inclined.

Berners-Lee is one such person, as the Web is clearly his invention: It is novel, involves an inventive step and a person can perform its processes with ordinary skill in the art. But he deliberately forsook commercial control of the Web, releasing the source code for free not long after he had announced its creation. While the internet cannot itself be owned, large swaths of it can be controlled.

Thus they effectively control the global network by parceling out internet access to internet service providers ISPs who then deliver it to consumers.

None of these telecom giants could claim patent rights over the internet itself, but any hardware they create to facilitate their operations would be patentable — and licensing those patents would be lucrative. It required the invention and patenting of thousands of technologies and algorithms.

Facebook also slowly but surely asserted near-total dominance of the social media field. This has led more than a few world leaders to call Google and Facebook monopolies, but they are not globally regulated as such, notwithstanding some hefty claims of anti-competitive practice. Currently, Google is embroiled in another EU antitrust lawsuit and Facebook has been targeted in a joint UK-EU action for alleged violations of unfair competition law.

In recent years, one of the most dynamic areas of internet-related IP rights has involved patents for technologies associated with the internet of things IoT. This concept describes the plethora of electronic devices from coffee machines to televisions that can now communicate with one another over the internet.

Instead, IP ownership concerns the interest that someone holds in creations of the mind. Owning IP means to own an idea or concept instead of an object or piece of real estate. Although IP is intangible — like real property — you can sell it or otherwise convey it. Normally, the person who thought up an idea or concept that's the subject of IP is the owner. However, it's possible to release or transfer IP rights through the following means:.

When a person holds IP rights , this allows him or her to exclude others from using the concepts or ideas that make up the IP. Governing law, as well as the type of IP involved, determine how far-reaching these rights are. For example, rights may be limited to preventing someone else from using the IP for commercial gain. One thing that's important to understand is that a company doesn't necessarily own IP because it paid for the work to be created.

Legal positions differ depending on the creator of the work. The following may be involved in IP development and ownership:. In many cases, founders create, develop, and register their IP rights before they incorporate their company. For instance, they may do the following:. When founders create an IP before the incorporation of their company, they own the IP, not the company. It is therefore highly recommended to make sure that you have a written assignment agreement from the outset, which will save you a lot of potential trouble down the line.

This means that IP created by the director or shareholder will belong to them rather than to the company. Briffa lawyers are experts in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law and practice. If you are starting a business and would like more information about ownership of IP or to know more about IP in general, please drop us an email or give us a call and we will be happy to arrange a free consultation with one of our specialist IP lawyers.

Written by Anastasia Troshkova , Solicitor. Email Us. Call Us. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Who owns your IP?