18. Invention, intellectual property and income
Invention, Intellectual Property and Income
Invention
Every invention starts with a problem to solve or a way to make life better. So in basic words its something that solve problems .
Introduction to Intellectual Property (IP)
Intellectual Property (IP) covers creations of the mind—like inventions, art, and designs. Protecting IP encourages innovation by letting creators benefit from their work. In today’s world, IP is a big driver for economic growth and creative progress1.
Types of Intellectual Property
Here’s a quick rundown of the main types of IP:
- Patents: Protect new inventions and give exclusive rights for up to 20 years.
- Trademarks: Safeguard brand names, logos, and slogans.
- Copyrights: Cover original works like art, music, and writing.
- Trade Secrets: Guard confidential business info (like formulas or processes).
- Industrial Designs: Protect the look and feel of products.
- Geographical Indications: Identify products from specific regions (like Darjeeling tea)1.
https://fabacademy.org/2019/labs/vigyanashram/students/tushar-kukreja/assignments/week19/CREDITS
Protection by each Intellectual Property:The table below illustrates each of the four different types of intellectual properties and what they might be used to protect in a broader sense.
Patents
A patent gives inventors exclusive rights to their inventions for a set period, usually 20 years. To get a patent, your invention must be:
- Novel: New and not previously disclosed.
- Non-obvious: Not an easy idea for someone skilled in the field.
- Useful: Must have some practical application.
Patent Process:
- File a detailed application.
- Undergo examination.
- If approved, get your patent granted.
Image Credits: 1890 Edison Light Bulb Patent Print Vers #2, Thomas Edison Invention Wall Art, Electric Light Bulb Print, Electrical Shop Wall art
Trademarks
A trademark is anything that helps people identify your brand—like a name, logo, or slogan. Registering a trademark involves:
- Checking if it’s unique.
- Filing an application.
- Passing an official review.
- Getting it registered if there’s no opposition1.
Trademark samples
Copyright
Copyright protects original creative works automatically when you create them. Registration is optional but gives extra legal benefits. Copyright usually lasts for the creator’s lifetime plus 50–70 years.
Protected Works:
- Books, articles, code
- Music, art, photos
- Films, performances
COMMONLY USED LICENCES TABLE
| License | Can Use Commercially | Can Modify | Must Share Changes | Requires Attribution | Patent Grant | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIT | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Licenses – Open Source Initiative |
| Apache 2.0 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Apache License, Version 2.0 |
| BSD | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | BSD licenses - Wikipedia |
| GPL | Yes | Yes | Yes (copyleft) | Yes | No | The GNU General Public License |
| LGPL | Yes | Yes | Yes (for library) | Yes | No | The LGPL License |
| MPL | Yes | Yes | Yes (file-level) | Yes | No | Mozilla Public Licence — Mozilla |
| Public Domain/CC0 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | CC0 - Creative Commons |
Open Source and Creative Commons Licenses
I want my work to be shared, remixed, and improved—but not used for commercial purposes without permission. That’s where Creative Commons (CC) licenses come in. Here are the main CC options:
| License | Commercial Use | Derivatives | Share Alike | Attribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC BY | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| CC BY-SA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CC BY-NC | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| CC BY-NC-SA | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CC BY-ND | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| CC BY-NC-ND | No | No | No | Yes |
| CC0 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Creative Commons License (pg 3) – CCNY Open Education Resources (OER) Workshop
How to Add a Creative Commons License
Here’s what worked for me:
- Go to Creative Commons Chooser.
- Pick the license that fits your goals. I chose CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike).
- Enter your project details.
- Copy the license text and badge. Rich text is like how you see it and html is the code for it .
Copy the code .
- Paste them at the bottom of your project page.
And this is how it would look like .
Choosing the Right License for My Project
Since I want people to learn from and build on my work—but not sell it—I picked CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. This lets others remix and share, as long as they credit me, don’t use it commercially, and share their changes under the same license1.
Income and Startups
If you want to turn your invention into a business, you can:
- Register as a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLP, or Private Limited Company.
- Apply for startup recognition (e.g., via Startup India).
- Protect your IP to attract investment and partnerships1.
Future Plans & Business Model
I always wanted to make a product for my company . If it works good and if i am satisfied with the product i would modify the product and look more into design aspects making it more compact and i would try to hire some developers so i could make it as a product and sell it via online . For that i would make a few ones and do a prelaunch and do some marketing and i would take some feedbacks from people and would try to incorporate that too .
Minutes a Pomodoro Timer © 2025 by Abin Mathew is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
