A business' priority should always be around protecting trade secrets, patents and intellectual property.

Four ways businesses can protect their intellectual property in 2014

January 14, 2014 6:04 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Every year, businesses sprout up around the United States to promote a new idea or product. While it can be difficult to get your face out there, make sure your company is prepared to defend your prototype or idea.

Sometimes, innovations may already be a popular-selling item, while with other times, a larger business may try to advantage of your staff to replicate specific products. Consider any of these Inside Counsel tips to ensure you are appropriately protected from thieves in 2014:

  • "Knowledge is power" -This adage may be cliché, but it is important to be proactive in protecting trade secrets and patent provisions. Take the time to read about copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property basics, Inside Counsel contributor Amanda Ciccatelli explained. "Regardless of whether you seek patents, explore whether your products or services might infringe on the patents of others," Ciccatelli wrote. In terms of trade secrets, sometimes it is safer to keep a tight lip, ensuring your advantage among others.
  • Reach out to an attorney – Small business lawyers have extensive experience in these subject areas. These professionals can provide legal advice on potential lawsuits or contracts.
  • Fully understand every contract – Every initial or signature you make is a huge leap of faith, make sure you are aware what you are signing up for each time. This also applies for contractors who agreed to help the development of the organization.
  • Increase cyber security – The use of electronics has made it easier for businesses to complete tasks, but now it is easier than ever to steal private information. Data breaches can happen to an organization at any given moment, so consider installing firewalls, encrypted folders and anti-virus software on all devices.

Start the new year on a strong foot and reach out to a Phoenix business attorney and gain a stronger grasp on intellectual property protections. Some of these legal battles can take months, even years, so taking the time to find a lawyer who is fully knowledgeable of your organization is important. 

Related posts:

  1. Four ways businesses can protect their intellectual property in 2014
  2. How non-disclosure and non-compete agreements help businesses protect intellectual property
  3. Houston oil company files intellectual property suit against former deputy general counsel
  4. Houston oil company files intellectual property suit against former deputy general counsel

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