Your Business Protection Checklist You’re dedicated, working hard to make your business a success but are you protected? We’ve prepared this generic Business Protection Checklist for you to help you make sure you are doing all that you can to mitigate both internal and external threats posed to your company.
What do you need to consider when marketing and promoting your business? Logos, slogans, names, symbols, devices, To protect your IP and reputation these Trade Marks should be registered. designs, phrases, sounds or unique colours used to describe your product or service Creative materials (marketing /sales leaflets, brochures, websites, direct mail letters)
Although you will have paid the invoices for companies to provide these for you, it does not mean that you own the IP rights. You need to ensure these are signed over to you.
Advertising, Promotions, Competitions
These have to comply with the Trade Description Act to avoid misleading customers and deceptive conduct. For competitions, it is your responsibility that they comply with all relevant rules and regulations and you must have written terms and conditions.
How can you protect your innovations? Does your business create and design new products, inventions and prototypes? How can you protect these ideas and innovations from the competition?
Patent Registration is usually the first part of this process. Likewise, you should also seriously consider protecting any products, patterns or industrial designs that are unique in their outward appearance. Design Registration is appropriate in this instance.
When working with resellers, distributors and other partner companies how do you protect your business? When you work with ‘third parties’ you should consider a number of different Agreements to protect your business both in the UK and Overseas. Use of your creative materials including your logo and slogan
A Copyright and/or Trade Mark Licence Agreement is necessary to provide you with control regarding how ‘third party’ companies use your creative materials. This will protect your company’s name and reputation and allow you to control how your creative materials are used.
Partnership projects
If you work with a ‘third party’ in the development of a product or service you should consider Research & Development, Marketing and Joint Venture/Revenue Sharing Agreements.
Use of your Inventions or Designs
A Patent or Design Licence Agreement is essential to protect you against unauthorised use of your invention or design and allow you to control how your invention or design is used by third parties.
How do you safeguard and develop ‘trusted’ relationships with your clients, suppliers and employees? Employing Staff and using Contractors Ensure appropriate clauses are in all Contracts to cover intellectual property ownership, confidentiality issues and restraints of trade. New business proposals including ideas and strategies
Clearly state your ownership of this confidential material on all relevant documents and where possible use Confidentiality/Non-disclosure Agreements to prevent unauthorised use and/or distribution of your confidential information.
Supply of Goods and Services
Clients and suppliers must be asked to sign your Terms & Conditions Agreement which will include payment terms, termination periods etc.
If you would like any further information about protecting you business, please get in touch. Call us on 01633 259016 Please note that the information presented above is for the purposes of guidance only and professional advise should be sought to assist with putting the above advice into practice - For more information, please contact Astrum-IP on 01633 259016 or email us: enquiries@astrum-ip.com We are always happy to help.