Future proof your Intellectual Property
- Jul 06, 2021
Just how resilient is your intellectual property strategy? Given the growing commercial importance of intellectual property (IP) assets and the dynamic nature of the modern R&D landscape, it is a critical question that many businesses simply can’t ignore.
Simultaneous growth in the volume and value of IP assets and is adding to the pressure on companies to future-proof their IP strategies around expertise, processes, and data.
Sustainable innovation and risk mitigation requires a holistic approach to IP management based on sound expertise, effective processes, and accurate data. This is where our IP specialists come into the picture.
IP Protection
Your company's intellectual property, whether that's patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets or just employee know-how may be more valuable than your physical assets. Here is to establish basic policies and procedures for IP protection.
1. Know what IP you have
If you understand what needs to be protected, you can better understand how to protect it, and from whom to protect it.
2. Prioritise your intellectual property
Make a map of your company's assets and determine what information, if lost, would hurt your company the most. Then consider which of those assets are most at risk of being stolen. Putting those two factors together should help you figure out where to best spend your protective efforts (and money)
3. Label valuable intellectual property
If information is confidential to your company, label on it that says so. This seems obvious and trivial, but if you wind up in court trying to prove someone took information they weren't authorised to take, your argument won't stand up if you can't demonstrate that you made it clear that the information was protected. Use an international copyright notice © on catalogues, blueprints, websites, software and other publications and materials.
4. Think Globally
Where do you use your IP? If your company is an international business then it would be prudent to secure and register your IP in the countries of where your business is conducted or products sold. Securing your IP in your country of registration – headquarters is merely not enough. IP rights are territorial, and rights held and protectable in the United States do not necessarily provide protection in a foreign country
5. Obtain non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) from local and other business partners.
NDAs may be difficult to enforce in local courts, but it is impossible to enforce one that doesn't exist. Simply having a signed agreement may have some deterrent effect.
6. Retain effective local counsel.
Using a local attorney with knowledge of the local IP system is critical for getting things enforced in a foreign jurisdiction. An official letter from a wellrespected local attorney or law firm is likely to get attention and respect
Our IP Services
With years of expertise, we can help you protect and enforce your IP, locally, regionally and internationally.
- Copyright
- Brands and image rights
- Trademark clearance, filing and opposition
- Trademark portfolio management
- Trademark registration (national, EU or worldwide)
- Licensing, franchising and sponsorship
- Protection of product designs
- Passing-off and unfair competition litigation
- Patent registration
- Business name registration
- Industrial models and designs
- Protecting trade secrets and other confidential information
- Licencing Agreements
- Franchising Agreements