Intellectual Property – we don’t have any of that
Whenever you hear talk of Intellectual Property (or ‘IP’), you most likely think to yourself “we don’t have any of that”, “we don’t need any of that”, or “whatever it is, it sounds like an expensive, complicated distraction”.
Y
ou are not alone. In my experience, many businesses, small or large, established or start-up, react in this way to the mention of IP. However, there are some good reasons why you think again about IP and how your business exploits its
IP in support of your commercial goals. This article intends to introduce some of these important issues. Firstly, what do I mean by ‘IP’? When asked, most business people consider IP only to be patents. Some might include trademarks, and a few would say copyright. All of these answers are correct and describe intellectual property rights. However, it is perhaps more useful to consider a broader definition of IP. The product of any creative thought and effort can be considered as intellectual property. Notice the deliberate use of the word “any”. Business plans, customer contracts, use of technology, branding, technical inventions, product designs, databases, and process know-how are all examples of intellectual property. Since IP can be bought, sold and rented (licensed) just like
real property, your IP can contribute to the value of your business. For example, having a comprehensive database of customer contacts, sales histories and requirements would be extremely valuable to a competitor. Since such a database has taken time and effort to construct, and is not a trivial undertaking it will have value to your competitors and should be protected as much as possible. In the case of information held in a database, copyright is the formal IP right that is relevant. However, since it is important that the information is not lost in the first place, strict confidential information policies are the most effective mode of protection. Properly identified and protected IP has significant importance
and value to a business. For example, it can enable you to prevent, or significantly limit, the activities of a competitor in your core market. It can generate "passive" income from licensing arrangements in other industry sectors or territories. Identifying and protecting IP can be used as an incentive to employees to innovate for the overall benefit of the business. All businesses have IP, it’s just that they don’t realise it or don’t want to realise it because of the perceived complication. While it may be a perfectly rational business decision not to take any action in respect of your IP, I would argue that it needs to be a conscious decision not to take action, rather than simply a lack of a decision or action. Having realised the potential importance and value of your IP, what can you do to start to get the most out of it? Although all businesses have different motivations and circumstances, there are a few steps that can be taken by any business, of any size, to help the conscious decision making process:
1 84
Quantify what intellectual property already exists, and what the importance and impact of that IP is on your
business. For example, how important is branding to your business and what would be the costs and inconvenience associated with having to re-brand because of a competitor's IP? Do you have key information that enables your business to operate, and how is that information controlled and stored? Could you license your technology to other industry sectors?
"appropriate". As suggested above, the protection of IP goes beyond simply patents and other registered rights. Confidential information policies, employee and supplier contracts, and confidentiality agreements are all valuable tools where protecting your intellectual property is concerned. A broad "basket" of IP policies and rights provides a business with the most appropriate protection.
2 3
Following these steps will get you on the way to a fully formed IP strategy, which can significantly benefit your business in terms of market protection and income generation.
I hope that this article has prompted you to ask yourself about your IP, and how you might exploit it to the greater benefit of your business.
Chris Vigars is the founder of ElementOne IP, an IP services company that assists start-ups and SMEs in the strategic use of IP to support their commercial goals. He is an engineer and patent attorney by training, and advises on all aspects of intellectual property, including commercial strategy, IPR protection and exploitation. Chris can be contacted at
chris@elementoneip.com.
‘PROPERLY IDENTIFIED AND PROTECTED IP HAS SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE AND VALUE TO A BUSINESS’
Identify potential future sources of intellectual property within your business, with a view to capturing that
future IP. Are you constantly coming up with solutions to tricky technical problems?
Decide on the most appropriate form of protection and exploitation for your IP. The important word here is
THE WEST MIDLANDS CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Directory 2011/2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262 |
Page 263 |
Page 264 |
Page 265 |
Page 266 |
Page 267 |
Page 268 |
Page 269 |
Page 270 |
Page 271 |
Page 272 |
Page 273 |
Page 274 |
Page 275 |
Page 276 |
Page 277 |
Page 278 |
Page 279 |
Page 280 |
Page 281 |
Page 282 |
Page 283 |
Page 284 |
Page 285 |
Page 286 |
Page 287 |
Page 288 |
Page 289 |
Page 290 |
Page 291 |
Page 292 |
Page 293 |
Page 294 |
Page 295 |
Page 296 |
Page 297 |
Page 298 |
Page 299 |
Page 300 |
Page 301 |
Page 302 |
Page 303 |
Page 304 |
Page 305 |
Page 306 |
Page 307 |
Page 308 |
Page 309 |
Page 310 |
Page 311 |
Page 312 |
Page 313 |
Page 314 |
Page 315 |
Page 316 |
Page 317 |
Page 318 |
Page 319 |
Page 320 |
Page 321 |
Page 322 |
Page 323 |
Page 324 |
Page 325 |
Page 326 |
Page 327 |
Page 328 |
Page 329 |
Page 330 |
Page 331 |
Page 332 |
Page 333 |
Page 334 |
Page 335 |
Page 336 |
Page 337 |
Page 338 |
Page 339 |
Page 340 |
Page 341 |
Page 342 |
Page 343 |
Page 344 |
Page 345 |
Page 346 |
Page 347 |
Page 348 |
Page 349 |
Page 350 |
Page 351 |
Page 352 |
Page 353 |
Page 354 |
Page 355 |
Page 356 |
Page 357 |
Page 358 |
Page 359 |
Page 360 |
Page 361 |
Page 362 |
Page 363 |
Page 364 |
Page 365 |
Page 366 |
Page 367 |
Page 368 |
Page 369 |
Page 370 |
Page 371 |
Page 372 |
Page 373 |
Page 374 |
Page 375 |
Page 376 |
Page 377 |
Page 378 |
Page 379 |
Page 380 |
Page 381 |
Page 382 |
Page 383 |
Page 384 |
Page 385 |
Page 386 |
Page 387 |
Page 388 |
Page 389 |
Page 390 |
Page 391 |
Page 392 |
Page 393 |
Page 394 |
Page 395 |
Page 396 |
Page 397 |
Page 398 |
Page 399 |
Page 400 |
Page 401 |
Page 402 |
Page 403 |
Page 404 |
Page 405 |
Page 406 |
Page 407 |
Page 408 |
Page 409 |
Page 410 |
Page 411 |
Page 412 |
Page 413 |
Page 414 |
Page 415 |
Page 416 |
Page 417 |
Page 418 |
Page 419 |
Page 420 |
Page 421 |
Page 422 |
Page 423 |
Page 424 |
Page 425 |
Page 426 |
Page 427 |
Page 428 |
Page 429 |
Page 430 |
Page 431 |
Page 432 |
Page 433 |
Page 434 |
Page 435 |
Page 436 |
Page 437 |
Page 438 |
Page 439 |
Page 440 |
Page 441 |
Page 442 |
Page 443 |
Page 444 |
Page 445 |
Page 446 |
Page 447 |
Page 448 |
Page 449 |
Page 450 |
Page 451 |
Page 452 |
Page 453 |
Page 454 |
Page 455 |
Page 456 |
Page 457 |
Page 458 |
Page 459 |
Page 460 |
Page 461 |
Page 462 |
Page 463 |
Page 464 |
Page 465 |
Page 466 |
Page 467 |
Page 468 |
Page 469 |
Page 470 |
Page 471 |
Page 472 |
Page 473 |
Page 474 |
Page 475 |
Page 476 |
Page 477 |
Page 478 |
Page 479 |
Page 480 |
Page 481 |
Page 482 |
Page 483 |
Page 484 |
Page 485 |
Page 486 |
Page 487 |
Page 488