As a general rule, the architect (planner) exerts the requirement that his intellectual property in the architectural services is recognised and protected. Under this, the copyright is the primary concern, namely his right to copy, change, process, first publish, have access and exhibit as well as a prohibition on its destruction. The patenting of construction has only been recently known under a rare case involving apartment buildings with varied-height flats (pile up®).
Of growing importance is design law (façade protection and interior details, etc.) as well as brand law with increases in building branding.