How to Protect Your Intellectual Property As A Business Owner

Whether you’re developing patents, storing trade secrets, or creating new products, your company likely owns a specific form of intellectual property (IP). These may be regarded as more valuable than your physical assets, as IP can serve as the lifeblood of your operations.

Previously, businesses across industries didn’t necessarily invest in much IP protection, but the current digital landscape makes it more and more difficult to protect privacy, much less secrets. Some form of a cyber attack can happen any day, making it paramount to establish well-rounded IP protection.

Catching attackers can be difficult, which means that prosecuting them can be nearly impossible. Getting your stolen information back may also be out of the question, as it can never be given back once it’s out there for everyone to see.

We’ve previously discussed ways in which you can protect your IP properly. Without further ado, here’s part two of our curated guide—make sure to keep these tips in mind:

Continue to Educate Your Employees About IP

The best and most effective way to protect your IP is to simply invest in awareness training. This should only target the people you’ve assigned to the protected information, however, as spreading the information too thin can leave you even more vulnerable. Human error is often the chink in the armour, and one blow can send your IP trending on the internet.

You’ll want your firewalls and copyrights to be manned by the right people, especially since negligence can be costly. Make sure to regularly offer training regarding IP exposure, along with seminars designed to help employees understand the protective software tools better.

Maintain Total Control Over Your IP

As previously mentioned, your IP can be the lifeline of your business. Without it, you may lose your business’s identity and reputation, which is why it’s important to exhaust all means to maintain control. You’ll want to know how and when your IP is used, and the only way to do so is to create a brand guideline people can follow.

Make sure that your staff understands how branding can be used in various forms, as well as all third parties authorized to do work under you. You’ll want them to adhere to quality control standards, all of which should effectively uphold the value of your brand.

Properly Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Your intellectual property may seem difficult to keep in a vault, especially in the modern world of instant access to everything. As a business owner, however, you’ll want to keep your IP working for you in the best way possible. It should rightfully provide you with value, as this is one way to keep your business relevant in a changing landscape.

It’s vital to invest in various means to ensure total protection, which includes continuous training and education for your employees, commanding total control over your IP, and embracing change and consistency. It’s also important to remember that you’re not alone—help is always available, especially for those who ask for it.

Protecting your IP through the strategic filing of patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs can be the difference between success and failure. Book a free consultation with us today.