sl-intellectual-propertylisted

# Intellectual property in Sri Lanka ## Before anything else The governing statute is the **Intellectual Property Act, No. 36 of 2003**. Registration is at the **National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO)**; enforcement is in the **Commercial High Court**. Registration and opposition work is usually handled by an Attorney-at-Law or a registered agent. This skill helps you understand what to protect and how; it does not replace them. ## Establish these first 1. **What kind of IP is it?** The regime differs completely — a brand name is a trade mark, a software product is copyright (and possibly a patent), a product's appearance is a design. 2. **Registered or unregistered?** Copyright arises automatically; trade marks and patents generally need registration to be properly enforceable. 3. **Who created it?** Employee, contractor, founder, or an agency. This determines ownership, and contractors are the usual problem. 4. **Where is protection needed?** Sri Lankan registration protects in Sri Lanka only. 5. **Is it already in use by someone else?** Search before filing. ## Reference files | File | Read when | |---|---| | `references/trade-marks.md` | Brand names, logos, registration, opposition, classes | | `references/copyright-and-software.md` | Software, content, works, authorship, ownership | | `references/patents-designs-enforcement.md` | Inventions, product appearance, trade secrets, infringement | ## The single most common problem **Contractor-created IP