Your Product and Intellectual Property (IP) Assets 

IP culture must be a part and parcel of any innovative company’s vision and mission, but, a big question for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is how to establish an IP culture within their organization. Startups and SMEs can create an IP culture by forming an IP policy for  the organization. The policy will…

Conducting a prior art search is an imperative measure that must be performed prior to initiating the filing of a patent application. The fundamental objective is to discern any preexisting information or technology that may impact the patentability of the invention. It is crucial to note that a vast majority of products or innovations lack…

If you are thinking about launching a new product or service in  an  existing  market  or  entering  a  new  market,  undertaking rigorous due-diligence in order to reduce business risks is imperative. This will ensure  protection  of  your company’s IP  rights  and at the same time prevent  third-party  rights’ infringement. You should perform due diligence including: …

Managing the use of Open-source software (OSS) for any software development company might be a challenging task. However, software development companies can set boundaries on OSS usage through a comprehensive IP Policy. The IP policy for an organization can define guidelines and compliance procedures for inclusion of OSS in any deliverable. The policy and procedures…

What is an IP Assist Program? If you are the owner of a small or medium-sized Canadian business and need assistance with intellectual property issues, you may be eligible for financial support from the Government of Canada. The National Research Council (NRC) has introduced the IP Assist program through their Innovation Research Assistance Program (IRAP)…

A well-formed IP strategy provides a structured intellectual property harvesting and monetization plan that is aligned with your business goals and recommends the right IP asset (patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, or industrial designs) based on the nature of your business. Steps in IP management strategy: IP Audit – Identifying intangible assets and intellectual property of the…