How to protect intellectual property?

For any creator or business, the worst thing is theft and plagiarism of intellectual property that took great effort to create and that, for many people, is a ticket to a successful future. We can keep the money we earn safe in a bank and the family jewels in a safe, but this kind of property cannot be hidden from ill-wishers. In this article we explain how to protect the results of your intellectual work.

What is intellectual property, and why does it need protection?

Intellectual property is the result of human mental activity. The term covers scientific works, books, music, films and cartoons, sculpture and painting, unique digital developments, new design solutions, inventions and know-how in various fields.

It also covers trademarks (logo, slogan, brand music, reputation, packaging design), which protect a business and set it apart. Like the owner of tangible property, the owner of an intellectual work can do what they want with it: sell it, license the right to use it, donate it, pass it on to heirs, and take action against unlicensed use.

Do not underestimate this kind of property. Many people have grown a startup from a small hobby into a very rich company. One example is J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, who earns a large income from her copyrights.

It is not always possible to say how much an intellectual work is worth. Even a simple, inexpensive development can bring in millions later, like the self-wringing mop of the inventor Joy Mangano, which made her a wealthy entrepreneur. Unscrupulous firms often copy the logo or technology of a more enterprising company. If that company did not protect its brand in advance and did not patent its developments, it will find it hard to resist counterfeiting.

How is intellectual property protected?

People began to talk about copyright protection in the 19th century, and the Berne Convention introduced the term officially. At the same time, the Paris Convention introduced the concept of industrial property. Today these concepts carry great weight and need more and more attention. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) now deals with the protection of intellectual work.

Each country has its own patent office that regulates this area. First, the owner of an intellectual work should register it, so that in any later dispute they can rely on proof of ownership. As mentioned above, there are two main areas: copyright (with related rights) and industrial property.

Copyright protects creative work: art, science, computer programs and databases.

Related rights cover the use of works in performances, phonograms, and over-the-air or cable broadcasts.
Industrial property covers patents for inventions in the manufacturing sector (utility models, designs, breeding achievements, microchips). It also covers trademarks, which identify goods and services in business, and know-how (information that is a commercial secret).

How to protect your intellectual property

Note that in most cases your intellectual work is protected only if it is registered. To patent it, you must prepare an application and file it with the patent office of the country where you need protection. Before you register, make sure that your invention or other property has not already been registered in your category. Patent offices keep a public register for this: you can find your category of goods and services (each category has its own code) in their databases and check it. However, it is better to give this search to an experienced patent attorney.

The registration process itself is fairly complex and long. On average it takes 14-18 months. If the decision is positive, your application is published and you receive the protection certificate or patent. The validity period of a protection title is different for each type of intellectual property. If errors are found in your application, correcting them takes several more months and costs extra money. This is another reason to turn to professionals. 

How to protect your ideas during a job interview

Sharing an idea or invention with a potential employer or business partner during an interview always carries some risk, since ideas themselves are not protected by copyright or patent law until they take a concrete, registrable form. To reduce that risk before the meeting:

• Sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the interviewer or company before disclosing any specifics.
• File a patent application (or at least a provisional one) beforehand if the idea is a technical invention — patent protection only exists once an application is filed.
• Keep dated records (notes, drafts, prototypes, emails) proving you conceived the idea before the interview.
• Share only the minimum detail needed to demonstrate value — save the full mechanism or implementation for after an agreement is signed.

If you want to register intellectual property simply and without problems, contact our specialists. They will guide you through every stage and help you get the protection title you need.

For detailed advice, write to us on Telegram or by email: info@sion-ip.com.