"Humans only have one ending. Ideas live
forever." -Ruth, Barbie Movie (2023).
Whilst ideas themselves can't be protected under IP, the
expression of ideas, technically speaking, can, provided they meet
the legal requirements. The expression of these ideas can be
protected under four main categories of IP rights, which include
patents, designs, Trade Marks and copyright.
One of the most important and lucrative IP rights for media and
entertainment businesses can be Trade Marks, which act as the
'face' of a brand. Usually, Trade Mark owners will use
these rights to build their reputation in a brand and protect it
from being infringed by third parties or even becoming diluted.
However, they can also be used to generate a source of income via
licences. Trade Marks are particularly important to brand owners,
given that they can be kept 'alive' and therefore licensed
forever, provided they are continuously renewed.
