Intellectual property essentials for start-ups
Helping to establish new businesses
The first years are crucial for start-ups striving to take advantage of market opportunities whilst navigating a whole host of challenges in a bid to avoid the high risk of failure.
Innovative new businesses have the potential to disrupt industry norms with the introduction of new products and new solutions, allowing them to establish a strong brand presence before competitors catch up. Intellectual property (IP) could be one of your most valuable assets, so ensuring you get the right advice and the correct level of protection for your inventions, brands, and designs at the start can save you time, money and legal problems further down the line.
There can be a lot to think about when launching a new business, so to keep it simple, our IP team has created an ‘IP essentials for start-ups’ pack. This guide offers practical advice such as key steps to take, when to seek professional advice and who can help. To help with managing costs there is a section on funding, IP tax incentives, and investment, as well as indicative timings and costs to assist with budgeting.
Who do we help?
We help business owners, founders, managing directors, innovation experts and engineers who need our expertise for intellectual property in start-ups.
Key considerations
- Protect your IP while enabling collaboration
- Establish a strong brand position
- Timing of product launches
Be aware of
- Costs whilst cashflow is limited
- Need for IP knowledge and skills
- Generalist advisers lacking the specialised expertise relevant to your business
How can we help?
- IP education and training
- Assessment of the IP in your business and what protection is required
- Freedom to operate searches
- Patent applications and registered design applications to protect from competitors copying
- Trade marks registrations to protect your brand name
- Drafting NDAs and confidentiality agreements
- Information on funding for IP