Nine Ways to Protect Your Intellectual Property

When it comes to innovative software development, your intellectual property is your most valuable asset. Unfortunately, options for protecting this asset from imitators are limited.

To protect yourself you can apply for a software patent, but it's an expensive, time-consuming process with no guarantee. The alternative is to find a work around, something that keeps your IP secure without having to go through the U.S. patent office.

Below, nine technology executives from Forbes Technology Council offer their best tips for protecting your intellectual property without getting a software patent.

1. Keep It Close 

Be very careful about any outsourcing partner you work with, either domestically or overseas. Make sure they have adequate security in place to protect your IP when they work on it. As well, be careful how your IP is accessed by remote teams. Private repositories on sites like GitHub might be very convenient, but you are handing over security to a third party. - James Dixon, Pentaho, a Hitachi Group Company 

2. Cover Your Legal Bases And Encrypt Your IP 

When we work with a developer (local or overseas) we make to sure to have strong legal agreements in place that are enforceable in the developer’s local court system as well.  We also employ strong encryption internally for sensitive IP, and we make sure our partners employ the proper levels of encryption. It seems like a lot of overhead, but it is far cheaper than dealing with a breach of trust later. -Tim Maliyil, AlertBoot 

3. Document Everything 

Beside as patent, keeping a running log or journal of what has been done and when can help you defend your property if it is stolen. This journal should start with the inception of the idea, include every meeting you have, who was invited, and who attended. Using a product with a reliable date and time stamp and having a paper copy of the important moments helps prove ownership of your idea. -John Zahorsky, Eden Autism 

4. Talk To An Expert 

There are numerous ways to protect your IP, such as patents, trademarks, design rights and trade secrets. It's about accepting that you need expert guidance early and preparation. What do you need to protect and how? Where, when and what is the timeline for applying in different regions? What do you need to budget for? Talk to the experts so you can understand, prepare and budget. -David Rajan, GlobalLogic – Method 

5. Idea Plus Execution Plus Cash Equals Success 

Great ideas are a dime a dozen -- at least 10 people are working on your great idea right now! The winner will execute well, getting the idea to market fast along with the operating model needed to provide great customer service. And if you've ever tried to start a business, you know your time frame to profit is 3x your original plan. Cash is your life blood extending your timeline to success. - Mike Brannan, Centric Consulting, LLC 

6. Offer The Best Experience In Order To Protect And Profit From Your IP 

Besides applying for a patent, I am not sure there is any other good option. Reverse engineering is becoming commonplace, trade secrets are becoming more difficult to protect, and patent trolls are appearing everywhere. I think offering the best experience to your user with your technology is -- or should be -- the only way to properly profit from it. - Chris Kirby, Voices.com 

7. Move Fast 

Depending on your idea, IP protection might be a necessary evil. Necessary because it can provide some protection from others attempting to copy you. At the same time, IP tends to be limited in its application (protects your idea but not variants) and can be expensive to defend. Instead, I always advise that IP is less important than speed to commercialization. Move faster than the competition. - Scott Stiner, UM Technologies, LLC 

8. Be Fast And Agile 

Organize your technology department to be flexible and agile -- staying fast and creative will keep you innovating ahead of larger, slower competitors. - Erik Gustavson, Bitium 

9. Use Good Security Measures 

At a minimum, all source code should be clearly labeled with a confidentiality notice, warning that unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited and should be kept on secure systems within your facility. Only allow authorized personnel to access it. When software is deployed into the field, consider using third-party digital encryption solutions to wrap your software in a security envelope. -Nathan Hayes, Modal Technology Corporation 

Source: Forbes

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Should intellectual property be abolished?

I am assuming your intended question was directed at the legal protections over intellectual property rights (i.e. patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets), and not the literal interpretation that we should stop creating and innovating.

The “value to society of intellectual property as a legally protected right” is an opinion with many views.

IP Services in Vietnam 

My view is that it would reduce the incentive for one to innovate and create. As an inventor, I would no longer share my thoughts and ideas with society so that others could grow them.

Individuals would be at a major disadvantage against larger companies who have more funds to test and revise quickly. An individual would need to protect all secrets until ready to build a final product and hit the market all as once. Because as soon as an innovation was released to the market, hoards of knock-offs would follow, quickly reducing the price, and quality.

As a writer, I would charge much more for my work, since it is free to be copied and sold by others, and value initially diminishes as a work becomes more commonly known.

Artist, Singers, Writers, etc. would be severely limited in what they could gain from their efforts and therefor would have incentive to prevent publishing, recording, and distribution to wider audiences. Inventors would spend time obfuscating their works, and refuse to explain new discoveries or improvement in the arts.

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Seven Ways To Keep You From The Wolves

You have an invention or an idea for an invention. The first people you may hear about - or even may contact you - are from an invention development company. They advertise on radio and TV, and in magazines that cater to the inventive mind - and even some newspapers.

Invention development companies are private and public research companies that purport to help inventors develop, patent, and promote their ideas so they can be commercially licensed or sold. While many of these organizations are legitimate, some are not.

I state my stand on the use of such companies on my website - www.gadgets-gizmos-inventions,com. But, you may want to go that way anyway to develop your patent or invention. If that’s the case, here are seven helpful tips for you to make smart patent and invention development decisions:

?1. Learn About the PatentProcess.

?When you understand the basics of how to get a patent, you will know when invention marketers are making promises they, or the patent system, can't deliver. Knowing the steps to do a patent search, and what is required, as well as knowing what happens in the patenting process can only help you in making the right decision. You will have a better idea about whether the company you are talking to knows what they are doing for you - and not just their pocketbook.??2. Do Your Homework.

?Check the organization's references, ask for credentials, and then check them. Ask them for statistics on how many successes they have had compared to how many total clients. They are required by law to offer you this type of information. In fact, the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 gives you the following rights when dealing with invention promoters.

Before an invention promoter can enter into a contract with you, it must disclose the following information about its business practices during the past five years:

•             how many inventions it has evaluated,

•             how many of those inventions got positive or negative evaluations,

•             its total number of customers,

•             how many of those customers received a net profit from the promoter's services, and

•             how many of those customers have licensed their inventions due to the promoter's services.

This information can help you determine whether the promoter has been selective in deciding which inventions it promotes, and how successful the promoter has been. Ask for names of “successful” clients, and talk to them.

Invention promoters also must give you the names and addresses of all invention promotion companies they have been affiliated with over the past 10 years.

This information can help to determine whether the company you're considering doing business with has been subject to complaints or legal action.

You can call the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at 1-866-767-3848, and the Better Business Bureau, the consumer protection agency, and the Attorney General in your state or city, and in the state or city where the company is headquartered to check them out.??3. Be Realistic.

?Not every invention is patentable. Know that very few ideas - even the good ones - become commercially successful. Be wary of any developer willing to promote virtually any invention. If you are presented with the phrase - "We think your idea has great market potential" - beware, and take it for what it is - in a lot of cases, just a sales pitch. ??4. Know Where Your Money Is Going.

?Ask the organization how your money will be spent. Be on guard against large up-front fees and find out exactly how the money is spent. If the company gives you something like - "Our company has evaluated your idea, and now wants to prepare a more in-depth research report. It'll be several hundred dollars" - ask them if the idea is good enough for more research why don’t they foot the bill. ??5. Protect Your Rights.

DO NOT disclose your invention to a developer over the phone (or at any time) before first having them sign a confidentiality agreement. You could forfeit valuable patent rights. A sample confidentiality agreement is available on my website. ??6. Track Your Invention's Progress.

?If you decide to use an invention development organization, deal directly with the agent or patent attorney who will be handling your patent application. A lot of these type of firms outsource the work which is not good for you.

Many invention promotion firms also may claim to perform patent searches on your idea. Fraudulent invention promotion firms usually do patent searches that are are incomplete, conducted in the wrong category, or unaccompanied by a legal opinion on the results of the search from a registered patent attorney.

Because unscrupulous firms promote virtually any idea or invention without regard to its patentability - they may go ahead and market an idea for which someone already has a valid, unexpired patent. In that case, you may be the one subjected to a patent infringement lawsuit - even if the promotional efforts on your invention are successful. Most probably, the way the infringement suit is attracted is through a successful product.??7. Don't Get Discouraged! ??The patent process can be very complicated, so you will probably need professional help. There are many good patent agents and attorneys that can help you. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office maintains a nationwide register of attorneys and agents who meet the legal, scientific and technical requirements of the office.

The first step should be a patent search done by a reputable searcher. Your patent attorney can help with this, and should review the search for a package price, depending on the complexity of the invention.

Hang in there. It is a long and complicated process. But if your idea passes the initial search test and evaluation, there is a good chance you can receive a patent - in two or so years.

 Source: Articlecity.com

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Intellectual Property Defined

Ignorance of the law excuses no one. If you are unaware of your law, then you are in for big trouble. To better understand what are your rights and duties, educate yourself.

Issues regarding intellectualproperty rights are an important topic of discussion as many things revolve around this theme. Knowing what an intellectual property is the first step in our education. The U.S. Department of State defines it as:

“Creative ideas and expressions of the human mind that possess commercial value and receive the legal protection of a property right. The major legal mechanisms for protecting intellectual property rights are copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Intellectual property rights enable owners to select who may access and use their property, and to protect it from unauthorized use.”

This definition gives emphasis on the word protect. Indeed, it is designed to extend protection to the creator of a certain creative work or a product. Legal provisions are installed to give the owner the exclusive right to control access and use of his property. The law provides for specific procedures when a violation of these rights is committed.

Copyrights and industrialproperty are two categories that make up intellectual property.

Copyright laws provide for the owner an exclusive right to control access of his creative work. Variations may exist with different countries but the basic idea is this.

Industrial property includes such things as patents and trademarks. A patent is defined as a legal grant issued by a government permitting an inventor to exclude others from making, using, or selling a claimed invention during the patent's term. A trademark on the other hand is a name or symbol secured by legal registration that identifies a manufacturer's or trader's product or service and distinguishes it from other products and services.

Any infringement on these rights entitles the owner to a day in court. Filing a lawsuit is a must if you want to be compensated for the damages you have received. Of course you won’t know if you are already being violated unless you know what you’re rights are. There is a great need for us to be familiar with the concepts of intellectual property laws for us to know when we are being wronged and what needs to be done to address that wrong. Like they always say, “Knowledge is Power.”

 Source: Articlecity.com

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