The intellectual property of your business or company encompasses your core image and branding – how the public perceives your business – whether that be by association with a particular name, phrase, colour, pattern or jingle. More generally, intellectual property represents creations and innovations of the mind which create valuable assets to your business.
Several forms of IP protection are available to business owners in Australia, and choosing the appropriate avenue for both brand and product or service protection is an important aspect of running your business. Almost every business will have some form of IP that needs to be protected.
Trade marks – protect any mark used to distinguish your product or service from others in the market
Patents – protect new or improved inventions or products as well as processes and methods
Designs – protect shape, pattern, configuration or anything giving your product its unique look
Copyright – protects the expression of an idea such as any unique musical, literary or other artistic work
Circuit layouts – protects the unique configuration of circuit boards
Plant breeder’s rights – protect new plant varieties and strains
Confidential information and trade secrets – commercially sensitive information such as customer lists and business plans
Websites and domain names
It is vital to ensure that the correct IP is sought for your business to ensure that you don’t run into any legal issues down the track. It is a good idea to do an “IP Check” prior to starting a new business and also at regular intervals throughout the running of your business, as this can save you significant time and money later on.
Our IP team can assist with creating, protecting, defending, enforcing and commercialising your intellectual property in order to build and maintain your brand and protect your company image against competitors.
Stay up to date with our website for our intellectual property series which will explore different types of IP protection in more detail.
