Which one of the following intellectual property rights is automatically protected without any requirement of formal registration?

Introduction / Context:
Intellectual property rights (IPRs) protect creations of the mind such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs and symbols. Different IPRs have different rules for how protection arises. Some require formal registration, while others come into existence automatically when the work is created. This question asks which right is protected without any need for registration, a basic but important distinction in intellectual property law.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Four types of intellectual property rights are listed: copyright, patent, industrial design and trademark.
• The question asks which one is protected without the requirement of registration.
• We assume general knowledge that some rights are automatic while others need formal application and grant.

Concept / Approach:
Copyright protection automatically arises when an original literary, artistic, musical or similar work is created and fixed in a tangible form. No registration is required for the existence of copyright, although registration can provide evidentiary benefits. In contrast, patents, industrial designs and trademarks typically require formal registration or grant by a competent authority to secure full legal protection. Therefore, the correct answer is copyright.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that copyright law protects original literary, artistic, musical and certain other creative works from unauthorised copying or use. Step 2: Understand that under standard copyright regimes, protection arises automatically as soon as the work is created and expressed in a fixed form, such as writing it down or recording it. Step 3: Examine patents. Patents protect inventions and require a formal application, examination and grant by a patent office to be enforceable; they do not arise automatically. Step 4: Examine industrial designs. Design protection for the aesthetic features of a product typically requires registration in order to obtain exclusive rights. Step 5: Examine trademarks. While trademark rights may in some systems arise from use, full legal protection and easier enforcement usually depend on registration with the trademark office. Exam questions generally treat trademarks as rights obtained through registration. Step 6: Therefore, of the four options, copyright is the intellectual property right that is clearly protected without mandatory registration.

Verification / Alternative check:
Intellectual property textbooks and legal guides consistently state that copyright subsists automatically in an original work upon its creation, without any necessary formality. They also emphasise that patents, designs and trademarks involve administrative procedures, fees and official grants or registration. While some countries recognise unregistered trademarks based on use, the safest exam-oriented answer is that patents, designs and trademarks conventionally need registration, whereas copyright does not. This confirms copyright as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Patent rights require a formal patent grant from the patent office and do not arise automatically when an invention is conceived.
• Industrial design protection typically requires registration of the design before exclusive rights can be enforced.
• Trademarks generally need registration for strong legal protection, even though some limited rights may accrue from use; exams usually treat them as registration-based rights.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mistakenly assume that every form of intellectual property must be registered, overlooking the automatic nature of copyright. Others may overthink the nuances of unregistered trademarks and become unsure about the best answer. In objective general knowledge questions, the standard distinction to remember is simple: copyright is automatic on creation, whereas patents, designs and trademarks are typically registration-based rights.

Final Answer:
Copyright