Intellectual Property

What it is and how it can be used in your business to add value?

Intellectual Property or IP as it is often referred to has become an increasingly important component of just about every business. Technology based businesses may well have protected their inventions through a program of patent filing. Design features of their products may also have been registered. Specific component layouts and architecture in electronic circuits can be protected under the legislation relating to circuit topographies. Brochures and instruction sheets are the subject of copyright protection ……and so it goes on!

Even businesses which do not think that IP has much, if anything, to do with them could be in for a surprise! For example every business has more than a passing interest in it own name. It does not want to be confused in the market place with its competitors (some of which might see such confusion as beneficial to themselves!).Trade marks can be helpful to distinguish a company's products or services. Confidential information represents an important IP asset. This can include details of a company's customers, its finances and trade terms including details of allowable discounts, the way it works, secret processes and so forth. All of this is IP and does need to be protected. Confidential information which is freely available is not confidential and cannot be protected so ensuring that you have in place a regime which ensures confidentiality is critical.

• Trade Marks
• Patents
• Designs
• Copyright
• Confidentiality
• Many other IP issues

You can contact Rowlands via email or call 0845 230 3980 to arrange a consultation with a Rowlands Intellectual Property specialist.