Resources
Helpful Links
The following websites can prove useful for those wishing to explore information available on the protection and management of intellectual assets:
Patent Searching:
www.cipo.gc.ca
www.uspto.gov
ep.espacenet.com
Copyright Information:
www.cipo.gc.ca
www.copyright.gov
Associations:
www.autm.net
www.ipic.ca
www.acctcanada.ca
www.unico.org.uk
www.astp.net
Asking the right questions
If you have an idea or a product that you believe needs protection, make sure you ask the right questions:
• Not can we, but rather should we get intellectual property protection?
• If we secure intellectual property protection, how wide can that protection be?
• Will we be able to enforce our intellectual property protection?
• Do we have freedom to operate in our field?
Businesses need to understand how intellectual property management can affect future value and prospects. The daily news regularly reports on businesses that are seeing their ability to carry on hampered due to not having properly asked some of these questions in the past.
Proper strategic planning, intellectual property protection, and on-going intellectual property management can avoid the embarrassment and financial loss that can arise.
Resources