Copyright, Trademark and Intellectual Property Policy

1. Introduction and Purpose

This policy sets out how AweSTEM Ltd ("AweSTEM", "we", "us", "our") protects its intellectual property (IP), and explains clearly what other individuals and organisations — including former staff, contractors, business partners, and competing businesses — may and may not do with our brand, content, and materials.

This policy exists to protect the goodwill, creative work, and brand identity we have built, and to make clear that this material may not be copied, reused, or exploited by a competing business without our express written consent.

This policy is governed by the law of England and Wales, principally the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988), the Trade Marks Act 1994, and the common law tort of passing off.

2. Our Intellectual Property

AweSTEM owns, or holds the rights to, the following IP, whether registered or unregistered:

• The "AweSTEM" name, logo, brand colours, taglines and visual identity
• Our website (awestem.co.uk) and all text, layout, and design elements on it
• Our curriculum, lesson plans, coding/robotics/game design teaching materials and course structures
• Marketing materials, brochures, social media content and copy
• Photographs and video footage taken at our camps, clubs and events
• Any software, code samples, worksheets or templates created for or by AweSTEM

3. Copyright

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, original literary, artistic, dramatic and audiovisual works created by AweSTEM, its staff, or its contractors in the course of AweSTEM's business are automatically protected by copyright from the moment they are created — no registration is required.

This includes, without limitation, our website text, social media content, images and videos, curriculum documents, lesson plans, presentation slides, worksheets, marketing copy, photographs, and video footage.

Copyright in works created by an employee in the course of their employment belongs to AweSTEM as employer, in accordance with section 11 of the CDPA 1988. Copyright in works created by directors, owners, contractors, or family members in the course of AweSTEM's business is likewise owned by AweSTEM, whether by operation of law, by virtue of their role and duties to the company, or under written assignment. Departure from AweSTEM, in any capacity, does not transfer or return any of these rights to the departing individual.

UK copyright protection generally lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years for literary and artistic works; different terms may apply to photographs and other work types.

4. Trademarks and Brand Identity

The AweSTEM name and logo function as trademarks identifying our business and services. No individual or organisation may use the AweSTEM name, logo, brand colours, taglines, or any mark confusingly similar to them, in connection with a competing business, product, or service, without our prior written consent.

This applies whether or not our trademark application has completed registration: using a business name, logo, or branding that is identical or confusingly similar to AweSTEM's, in a way likely to mislead customers, schools, or the public into believing there is a connection with AweSTEM, may constitute passing off under UK common law, in addition to trademark and/or company law infringement once registration completes.

5. What You May and May Not Do

This section applies to former staff, contractors, co-founders, business partners, competing businesses, and any other third party.

You CAN:

• View our public website and social media content for its intended informational purpose
• Share a link to our public content (e.g. sharing a blog post or social media post)
• Quote a short excerpt of our published content with clear attribution to AweSTEM and a link back, consistent with the "fair dealing" exceptions under UK copyright law
• Refer to AweSTEM factually and accurately (e.g. describing a past role or business relationship) in a way that does not imply current affiliation, partnership, or endorsement

You CANNOT:

• Copy, reproduce, adapt, or republish AweSTEM's curriculum, lesson plans, teaching materials, website content, or marketing copy, in whole or in substantial part
• Use the AweSTEM name, logo, brand colours, taglines, or any confusingly similar branding in connection with a competing business, product, service, domain name, or social media account
• Use photographs or video of AweSTEM students, camps, clubs, or events — including material created or accessed during a person's involvement with AweSTEM — in the marketing, website, or social media of a different or competing business
• Represent, imply, or suggest current affiliation, partnership, endorsement, or ownership connection with AweSTEM without our written authorisation
• Register or use a company name, trading name, website domain, or social media handle that is identical or confusingly similar to AweSTEM
• Remove, obscure, or alter any copyright or trademark notice on AweSTEM materials
• Use AweSTEM's confidential business materials (e.g. internal curricula, pricing, or client lists) obtained during a business relationship, for the benefit of a competing business

6. Photographs, Video and Student Images

Photographs and video of students, taken with parental consent in accordance with our Privacy Policy, are original works in which AweSTEM holds copyright, and personal data in which affected families hold UK GDPR rights. These two protections apply together, not as alternatives.

A parent's consent for AweSTEM to use their child's image applies only to AweSTEM's own channels (our website, our social media, our marketing). It does not extend to any other individual or organisation, including former staff, directors, owners or competing businesses. Use of such images outside AweSTEM's own channels, by any third party, is both a copyright infringement and, where a child is identifiable, a potential breach of UK GDPR — see our Privacy Policy for further detail on how we handle children's images.

7. Former Staff, Contractors, Directors and Business Partners

Any intellectual property created, adapted, or co-authored by a director, employee, contractor, or family member in the course of involvement with AweSTEM's business remains the property of AweSTEM Ltd, regardless of that person's subsequent departure, role change, or dispute with the company.

Ending a relationship with AweSTEM, in any capacity, does not grant any right to use, copy, adapt, or continue exploiting AweSTEM's name, branding, curriculum, materials, or images in a new or competing venture. Any such use requires our prior written consent.

8. Enforcement

AweSTEM actively monitors for unauthorised use of its intellectual property, including online and on social media. Where infringement is identified, we may take one or more of the following steps, as appropriate:

• Formal takedown requests to platforms, registrars, or hosting providers
• Cease and desist correspondence via our solicitors
• Reports to the UK Intellectual Property Office, Companies House, or relevant regulators
• Legal action for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and/or passing off, under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the Trade Marks Act 1994, and the common law
• Referral to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), where personal data (e.g. student images) has also been misused

We reserve all rights not expressly granted in this policy. Nothing in this policy constitutes a waiver of any AweSTEM right, whether exercised or not on a particular occasion.

9. Reporting Infringement

If you believe AweSTEM's intellectual property is being used without authorisation, please contact us at info@awestem.co.uk with details of the material and where it can be found. We take all reports seriously and will investigate promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our business or in the law. The latest version will always be available on our website.