Businesses need something to help them stand out from the competition. Intellectual property is often one of the main differentiators between brands. A company’s trademarked logo, its animated mascot, the organization’s jingle and even the original works that the company releases could attract consumers or generate a lot of the organization’s revenue.
Unfortunately, intellectual property is often at risk of misuse or theft by others. Other companies and even employees could misuse intellectual property. How do businesses protect against intellectual property violations?
They develop protective contracts
A business can include details in contracts with consumers, employees and other organizations that will prevent the disclosure or misuse of the organization’s intellectual property. Protecting trade secrets and other valuable information from future use by employees is a common concern.
Although non-compete agreements have recently come under fire, there are other contractual means of protecting a business. Non-disclosure agreements can prevent workers and even customers or vendors from sharing trade secrets with other parties.
By registering their most valuable assets
There are copyright and trademark protections available for businesses. Companies need to submit applications and pay fees to create a federal record of their intellectual property. By formally registering for intellectual property protection, businesses protect the original works associated with their brands.
The company will also be in a better position to take legal action should there be some kind of violation in the future. They can potentially take another business or an individual to court for violating the organization’s intellectual property rights or breaching a contract.
Understanding how companies can limit the likelihood of intellectual property violations can make the investment in creative works less of a gamble.