As a crafts person your designs and creations along with the skills that are required to create them are your most valuable asset.
Original designs are one type of what is called intellectual property.
With increasing competition and the ease at which technology such as the Internet can distribute your work, it is important for you to identify and protect it from exploitation by others. You need to develop strategies for protecting your designs before you make them public or you may lose your rights and your creative efforts will be wasted. The various strategies, including registered designs, confidential information, trademarks and copyright offer you legal protection and allow you to place a value on this important aspect of your work. Doing this can also help you to obtain finance and increase the value of your business. Ownership of these rights is your recognition and reward for your work and you can own, sell, licence or bequeath them in the same way as any physical asset.