Have A New Idea? 4 Ways To Protect Your Intellectual Property

You've thought of a design that's going to revolutionize the way something is done. You're not ready to manufacture it but you want to make sure your idea is protected. Without proper protection, your intellectual property could fall into the wrong hands. If that happens, you could lose out on everything related to your design. Here are some simple ways to protect your intellectual property.

Research Your Design

Once you've created the design, you need to make sure that it doesn't already exist. Before you start protecting your idea, make sure it doesn't belong to someone else. The internet is a good place to start. A search of the internet will allow you determine if your idea is already someone else's intellectual property. If it is, you'll need to go back to the drawing board.

Know Your Rights

Once you've created something, it becomes your intellectual property. However, unless you protect that property, someone else can come along and create the same design. To properly protect your IP – intellectual property – you need to know your rights. Here are three IP rights you have.

  • Patents – protects new designs and ideas
  • Registered designs – protects the appearance of a product
  • Trademarks – protects product brands and logos
  • Copyrights – protects the words and expressions of an idea

Speak to an Attorney

Once you've determined that you've designed a fresh idea, you should sit down with an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney, such as Adrienne Naumann,  will be able to help you through the process of licensing and protecting your intellectual property. It's important to note that an attorney can help you with any type of intellectual property you may have, including products and concepts.

File a Patent Application

Don't wait until you've manufactured a working component of your design to file a patent application. As soon as you have the concept on paper, file an application. The patent application will protect your idea while you're working on the final designs. Not only that but, your application will hold your place in line for the next 12 months. During that 12 month period, you'll be able to continue working on your design. If you need additional time, you'll be able to file for an extension.

Whether you've come up with a new product, or a new way to get a job done, you need to protect your ideas. Without proper protection, someone else can use those ideas. The information provided above will help you protect your intellectual property.


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