Is this really all mine? Intellectual property explained
- Licenses to use IP (including patent and software licenses). Any licensing agreements signed by the company should be recorded and copies stored electronically.
These schedules can be as simple as a spreadsheet or extend to very sophisticated IP management databases for larger companies. Once set up, they should not that be difficult to maintain and could, for example, be one of the defined responsibilities of your internal accountant, company secretary, technical or R&D manager. Specialised support is also available to assist you.
Want to know more? At least one of the managers in your business should be familiar with the basics of patents, trade marks, registered designs, copyright, and trade secrets, and how these may interact with your business. IP savvy staff are also in a good position to search online IP databases for new ideas, and to see what your competitors are doing.
If your business is IP rich, business owners might also benefit from this knowledge. IP Australia has a useful website, and many of the state and territory governments can provide advice and support. Patent attorneys and IP lawyers are always pleased to provide direct support and staff training, and to secure protection for your IP.
–Mike Lloyd is an IP Management Consultant at Griffith Hack (www.griffithhack.com.au), Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys and IP Lawyers.