Combining a low tax jurisdiction with membership of key intellectual property international treaties makes the Isle of Man (IOM) the ideal base for technology companies and businesses wishing to protect their intellectual property.
Trademarks
The Isle of Man does not have its own register of trademarks, but the registration system for trade marks is operated by the UK Intellectual Property Office. The Trade Marks Act 1994 (an Act of Parliament) extends to the Isle of Man. UK registered trademarks are therefore protected under Manx law by civil remedies and, in certain cases, criminal sanctions.
Although the Isle of Man is not part of the EU, Community Trade Marks are recognised in the Isle of Man.
Patents
The Isle of Man does not have its own register of patents for inventions, but the Patents Act 1977 (Act of Parliament) extends to the Isle of Man. Accordingly, patents registered in the UK Patent Office are protected under Manx law.
Copyright
The Isle of Man has its own copyright legislation, namely the Copyright Act 1991 (Act of Tynwald).
The period of copyright protection in the Isle of Man is generally for 50 years after the death of the author (not 70 years as in Member States of the EU). Although the Isle of Man is not part of the EU for this purpose, the Copyright Act 1991 makes provision for the protection of computer programs similar to that required in EU Member States by Directive 91/250/EEC.
Design Rights
Original designs of articles are protected for 15 years (or 10 years from the first sale or hire) under the Design Right Act 1991 (an Act of Tynwald). The registration system for industrial designs operated by the UK Patent Office under the Registered Designs Act 1949 (an Act of Parliament) extends to the Isle of Man.
Database Rights
The right of the maker of a database to control for 15 years the extraction and use of information in the database, similar to that required in EU Member States by Directive 96/9/EC, is protected in the Isle of Man by Part 2 of the Copyright (Amendment) Act 1999 (Act of Tynwald).