It can take a significant amount of time to build brand recognition for your business or organization. Yet, you might find effective strategies for doing so, including using distinctive intellectual property.
But whether you’ve created a slogan, a logo, or creative material that sets you apart from others, this intellectual property is susceptible to misappropriation unless you take action to protect it.
What’s the best way to protect your business or organization’s intellectual property?
Although it might look like a free for all out there when it comes to intellectual property, there are sound strategies you can implement to keep yours safe. Here are some key steps that you’ll want to take:
- Register all trademarks, copyrights and patents so that you have prima facie evidence of validity and make it easier to enforce the protections provided through registration.
- Utilize confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with employees so that they don’t leave your employ and immediately share your company’s intellectual property and secrets with competitors or those who are otherwise looking to profit off them.
- Implement strong cybersecurity measures at your business or organization.
- Routinely police your intellectual property so see if it’s being misused or otherwise misappropriated in the marketplace.
What if you find that your intellectual property is being misused?
If you find misappropriation of your intellectual property, then you need to act immediately. By taking legal action, you may be able to obtain an injunction that ceases the infringing use, and you could recover compensation for the damage caused by the misuse.
Just be sure to document every infringing use you discover as well as how it has negatively impacted your business or organization, that way you’re in as strong of a position as possible to make yourself whole again.