How to Protect Intellectual Property:
Copyright, Trademark and Patent:
Copyright, trademark, and patent are three of the most common types of IP protection. These grant you the exclusive rights to your creations, especially when it comes to the commercial gains of its use.
Copyright ©:
Copyright applies to the protection of tangible and intangible creative works. You own the copyright the moment you create something if you did not register it. However, it will be easier to validate your ownership, especially in a legal dispute, if you taketo register.
Trademark ™:
Businesses use symbols, designs, logos, and catchphrases as part of their marketing strategy and identity. It's these images and words that help a company connect to its customers; thus, these need to be protected from possible commercial saboteurs who might use or copy the designs for their own economic gain.
Patent ®:
There are different types of the patent process, and the conditions or requirements depend on the product or invention so you'll need to carefully identify which category the IP fits best. Most IP patents are valid from 15 to 20 years after the filing date. Take your time to clearly understand the difference between three options so you could make the right choice.
Register Business, Product or Domain names:
If you're planning to start a business with your IP, you can further protect your interest and identity by registering the business, product or domain name associated with it. It will also help to secure these names even if you're just in the planning stages of forming your business before others could come up with a similar idea and cause some confusion.
Your business, product, and domain names are part of your brand. Even in cases of a sole proprietorship, where you conduct your business under your own it will still help to secure registration.
You also gain legal protection that makes your business and IP a separate entity from your own person. This will prove valuable should you run into legal hitches in court.
Business and product names are usually registered in the state where you operate, and the requirements and paperwork may vary. Domain name registration, on the other hand, may be quickly done online through your preferred provider.
Create confidentiality, non-disclosure or licensing contracts for employees and partners:
Sometimes, there is crucial information about your business that you should protect from leaking in public. For instance, you are developing a video game, but you don’t want the details to come out before it’s ready to launch. Thus, it will be prudent to ask the game developers and other people working for you, who have knowledge or access to information or trade secrets, to sign a confidentiality agreement to ensure the IP protection.
Confidentiality agreements, which must be prepared by lawyers, bound employees, and workers to comply with your demand to keep what they know private. Otherwise, they will be legally liable for any leaks. Confidentiality agreements are also known by other names including:
1.A non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
2.Confidential disclosure agreement (CDA)
3.Proprietary Information Agreement (PIA)
4.Secrecy Agreement (SA)
Licensing, on the other hand, grants a third-party partner with access to your products for their use, branding, and distribution.
Implement security measures:
Nearly all businesses are conducted today using technology or the Internet. There is an upside to this because technology may fuel the growth, dynamics, and success of an operation. However, there are also downsides to using technology to conduct the business, especially when your company's IP is integrally connected online or stored in a system that may be vulnerable to hacking or file corruption.
Thus, there is a need to implement robust security measures within the IT framework of your company like password protected WiFisand privatenetworks.