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PROPERTY (IP)?
non-physical assets created using human intellect
that are legally protected from unauthorized use
What are these HUMAN INTELLECT?
SOFTWARE
ALGORITHMS
SYSTEM
ARCHITECTURES
HARDWARE
DESIGNS
NOTE: IP HAS NO PHYSICAL FORM
so it is treated as
TANGIBLE PROPERTY
ownership, licensing, and legal action can all be
enforced to protect the creator's rights.
🔑KEY TAKEAWAYS
IP REFERS TO
INTANGIBLE DIGITAL
THAT ARE LEGALLY
PROTECTED.
CERTAIN IPS EXPIRE
AFTER A SET TIME, WHILE
OTHERS CAN LAST
INDEFINITELY IF
ACTIVELY USED.
IP INFRINGEMENT OCCURS
WHEN CODE, DESIGNS, OR
TECHNIQUES ARE REUSED
OR COPIED WITHOUT
AUTHORIZATION.
IP IS A
COMPETITIVE
ASSET IN THE
TECH INDUSTRY
💡 Understanding
IP IN A TECHCENTRIC WORLD
IP includes anything from a custom software algorithm
to a processor core
IP protect not just ideas, but also products built around
those ideas
EXAMPLES
💡 Android's
Bionic Libc (C Library)
Though Android is open source, Bionic was
engineered in-house by Google and licensed under
a permissive open-source license. Forking or using it
outside of license terms would violate Google’s IP.
🔧 Apple’s
M-Series Chip Architecture (M1, M2, M3)
Apple patents and guards these designs heavily.
Competitors can’t legally copy their SoC integration
or performance-per-watt optimization techniques.
Because IP can be reused or licensed (like libraries or IP
cores in hardware design), monetizing it becomes part
of a company’s revenue stream.
⚠️
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ENGINEERING
In accounting, some software patents or digital assets
may be listed as company assets and amortized over
their useful life.
✅ The costaccounting
is gradually recorded as an expense in the
system, not all at once.
“Anything you design, code, or invent during work hours
(or using company tools) belongs to the company.”
🧩
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PROPERTY CODE
ID Type
Description
Computer Engineering
Examples
Duration
Embedded system designs,
CPU architecture, sensor
protocols
20 years
Patents
Provides exclusive rights to make, use,
or sell an inventive, and industrially
applicable invention.
Trademarks
& Service
Marks
Protects distinctive signs, names, or
symbols used to identify products or
services.
App icons, UI branding, names
10 years,
renewable
indefinitely
Copyrights
Protects original works of
authorship (automatically upon
creation).
Software source code,
documentation, firmware, GUI/UX
design
Life of the
author + 50
years
Industrial
Designs
Protects the aesthetic appearance
of products. Must be new or original.
PCB layout shape, UI screen
layout
5 years,
renewable up
to 15 years
Utility
Models
Like a "mini-patent" for practical but less
inventive innovations. Easier and faster
to register than a patent.
Simple improvements in sensor
integration, simplified robotics
arms
7 years, no
renewal
Trade
Secrets
Confidential business information that gives
a competitive edge and is actively
protected (e.g., NDAs).
Proprietary ML models, sensor fusion
algorithms, encryption routines
As long as
secrecy is
maintained
💡
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Infringement
Infringement occurs when someone uses
proprietary designs, algorithms, or software
without authorization.
EXAMPLE
Copying software code from a commercial tool
That code is copyrighted.
Even if you only copied a few lines or logic,
using it without a license or approval violates
IP laws.
Replicating GUI/UX from a protected app
UI/UX designs are protected by copyright and
sometimes trademarks.
IP INFRINGEMENT IN
TECH CAN RESULT IN:
Lawsuit
Project Bans
Loss of Reputation
Licensing fees or
damage penalties
🧩 Case Example
The legal battle between Waymo (a Google spin-off) and Uber centers on
allegations that Uber stole trade secrets related to self-driving car
technology, specifically lidar systems, after hiring former Google engineer
Anthony Levandowski. Waymo claims Levandowski illegally downloaded
14,000 confidential files before founding Otto, a startup Uber later
acquired, giving Uber a competitive "head start." The case involves two
lidar prototypes—Spider and Fuji—with Waymo alleging similarities to its
own designs. Uber denies using the stolen data and argues its systems
were independently developed.
Uber's Spider lidar prototype that it has been ordered to produce in court
Source: Google's Waymo Versus Uber Case, Explained - Business Insider
🧩 Case Example
The case did not go to a jury verdict—instead, Waymo and Uber reached a
settlement in early February 2018, just five days into the trial. Under the
agreement:
Uber transferred 0.34 % of its equity (valued at approximately
US $245 million) to Waymo
Uber also pledged not to use any of Waymo’s proprietary hardware or
software, especially its lidar designs
As part of the settlement, Anthony Levandowski was swiftly let go from Uber.
Following the settlement:
Levandowski faced criminal charges for trade secret theft. He ultimately pled
guilty, received an 18-month prison sentence, and was fined by the U.S.
Attorney’s Office
He was also ordered in civil court to pay US $179 million to Waymo, prompting
him to file for bankruptcy
So, the final outcome is that the companies never went to trial—Uber settled,
and Levandowski was convicted and sentenced in a related criminal case.
Source: Google's Waymo Versus Uber Case, Explained - Business Insider
Intellectual Property code
of the philippines
Republic Act No. 8293
Intellectual Property code of the
philippines
Republic Act No. 8293
the primary legislation governing intellectual property
rights in the Philippines.
Enacted in 1997 and amended in subsequent years
this law consolidates and codifies various intellectual
property rights, offering a comprehensive framework
for their protection
RA No. 10372: This amendment strengthened
enforcement mechanisms and provided additional
powers to Intellectual Property Office of the
Philippines (IPOPHL).
source: Republic Act No. 8293, as amended | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF
THE PHILIPPINES (IPOPHL)
is the regulatory body established under the IP Code.
It is responsible for administering and implementing the
law, as well as promoting intellectual property rights.
IPOPHL is divided into several bureaus, each dedicated
to different types of intellectual property:
Bureau of Patents (BOP): Handles applications and registration of
patents.
Bureau of Trademarks (BOT): Administers trademarks and service
marks.
Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights (BCRR): Oversees
copyrights and related rights.
Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA): Adjudicates disputes related to IP
rights.
Documentation, Information, and Technology Transfer Bureau
(DITTB): Provides resources and services related to IP education and
information.
source: Republic Act No. 8293, as amended | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
✅InHforwingteomAevnotid
Computer engineers and developers must:
Avoid copying code or IP blocks from opensource or proprietary tools without checking
licenses.
Use permissive licenses (e.g., MIT, Apache)
when possible and respect GPL restrictions.
Credit algorithms or modules reused from
research papers or repositories.
Ensure employment contracts clarify
ownership of any inventions.
🧾 THE BOTTOM LINE
In computer engineering, IP is not just legal
jargon—it is the cornerstone of innovation.
Whether
coding a
simulation engine
publishing an AI
model
designing a new
chip
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