Small business owners in any industry can have intellectual property that needs protecting. Learn how to identify IP and ensure that it’s protected.
Businesses create intellectual property (IP) whenever they establish a proprietary process, product, logo, literary work, or other original creation. If your business has IP, there are certain legal protections you can and should put in place to safeguard it from imitation or misuse.
Here’s what every small business should know about IP and how to protect it.
Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of not prioritizing IP protections, and some don’t think about it at all. Warren Tuttle, Co-Chair of the Creator Committee of the USIPA and Founder of Tuttle Innovation, attributes this willingness to overlook IP protections to a lack of awareness on the topic, a lack of resources to pay for legal services, and a lack of understanding of how IP can impact business.
“I think a lot of business owners are probably unaware of how they could be helping themselves,” Tuttle said. “We [the USIPA] just recently did a survey of consumers … and found that they don't really understand it a whole lot.”
While IP protections don’t apply to every business, Tuttle believes more entrepreneurs should be aware of what these protections entail and their benefits to a business owner.
“With [IP], you have now purchased… the right to defend yourself, [but] it can also be expensive,” Tuttle said. “You really have to be committed to it. And the [IP] has to be quite specific and really be of value to pursue it.”
Following these steps can help ensure your IP remains protected in case of infringement.
There are various types of IP, including:
To determine what IP assets your business has, the USPTO released an IP Identifier tool that identifies IP using questions and real-life examples and offers protection solutions.
Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of not prioritizing IP protections, and some don’t think about it at all.
To get started with IP protections, Tuttle suggests obtaining a provisional patent, or a temporary patent filling for the first 12 months. A provisional patent is an inexpensive way to protect your IP; depending on your knowledge of the patent process, you may even be able to file it on your own. However, he advised against going the DIY route long-term.
“Any type of real filing … requires a really good attorney,” Tuttle warned.
To choose an attorney, Tuttle suggests determining whether you’ll want to work with a big corporate firm or a smaller firm, as the latter is often less expensive. He recommended an organization called the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), which has member attorneys across America.
To get the most out of IP, Tuttle recommended keeping current about general IP updates and protection. As a first step, you can visit uspto.gov and educate yourself on the patent system.
For inventors looking to connect with others, Tuttle highlighted some available resources.
“There are inventor groups or organizations locally all around the country,” he said. “You can do a quick search online [or] go on the USPTO’s website to find out where these clubs are … The United Inventors Organization also has a listing by map [where] you can put in your locale [to] show… where the nearest club is.”
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