By Fernando Berrocal

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There are several methods to safeguard businesses and keep them secure. In this post, we will focus on one  important aspect: how to protect your intellectual property (IP).

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Human beings have always been creative creatures; throughout the ages, we have changed the world in different ways by developing novel concepts. Intellectual property was created as a result of that. You can own - and control - any kind of knowledge or ideas you have thanks to IP. Protecting IP has long been appreciated by businesses. This lets you receive compensation for your ideas without worrying that they'll be used without approval. It's not always necessary to register an IP to classify it as such. In many instances, keeping track of the creation date is sufficient to show ownership. IP comes in many different forms and some specific regulations and guidelines apply such as:

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• Any concept may be protected by copyrights.
• Brand identity may be developed via trademarks.
• Patents provide protection for inventions.

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Securing Your Business Idea: Intellectual property is a valuable asset that may be exploited to earn a profit. You must take action to protect it–and make sure that it is legally acknowledged as your property. Sadly, IP theft is a widespread problem.  Anyone can become a target. As a consequence, it's critical to exercise caution and adopt protective precautions.  Anybody who tries to profit from your IP may be held legally liable.  IP rights can help take corrective measures and promote creativity.

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Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights: In order to comprehend how these concepts are used within intellectual property.  Some background info on each:

• Patents act as a method of securing the confidentiality of inventions and preventing their unauthorized disclosure. If they are applied for without authorization, there can be legal repercussions.
• Words, phrases, or symbols that identify a business are known as trademarks. Anyone that wants to utilize a string of words known as a trademark must ask for permission.
• Copyrighting is the act of registering original works to prevent unauthorized use or duplication. Making sure that creators have control over how their work is utilized and distributed is fundamental.

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): This is the last line of protection of your invention.  It prohibits anyone who gains privileged information about your IP from telling others. An NDA should be used if you are working on a clandestine project. This guarantees confidentiality from the employees involved in it. Often, before ideas can evolve into products, they need a large group of people to work on them. Many workers and businesses are faced with this situation since they must make choices that may result in the exposure of their ideas.

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If you have a mobile app idea in mind - without a final, developed product - make sure the developers you recruit are committed to signing a confidentiality agreement before they can learn about it. This will ensure they don't share ideas. It also reduces other inconveniences, including critical information leaks. Before being utilized as evidence, a legally enforceable NDA must be formed. When it comes to trademarks, startups may encounter difficulties. The fear of having ideas stolen may force them to postpone efforts, or enlist external support. When the process of innovation lacks strategy, issues arise. 

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NDAs aid in the protection of private information, but there is always a possibility that third parties might discover a secret. To avoid this, it's advisable to start the trademarking procedure as early as possible. You will need to take chances if you have an idea that needs outside help but you haven't submitted it. For any business with even the most imaginative of concepts, this is a challenging period.

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The Importance of Intellectual Property to a Startup: Many individuals possess creative minds, and are capable of developing original concepts that will alter how a product is used. When registering an invention, it is crucial to preserve your IP rights. Spending time on this approach can help you avoid having your concepts stolen. If you don't, someone else could claim your IP as theirs. There have been several instances where someone developed something of value but lost ownership of it as a result of another party discovering and registering it before. You can prevent this from happening by taking precautions to safeguard it.

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Intellectual Property as a Business Asset: A significant business asset, IP should be registered as soon as feasible. If you believe that the value of an idea exceeds its ability to be safely shared. Finding out whether IP needs to be registered may be easy using this method. If you have something that you think is distinctive and unique, you will always take chances with it even if it isn't registered. When businesses seem unable to safeguard their creative assets, they frequently find themselves in lengthy and costly legal disputes. Consult with an expert lawyer who can guide you through the process of protecting your IP to avoid this.

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Violating Another Startup’s IP Rights: If you duplicate original work without the creator or owner’s consent, you could end up dealing with the law. It's crucial to keep in mind that any information you utilize that isn't yours might be protected by copyright. Without authorization, it’s prohibited and may entail severe fines to use other material for commercial gain. Before utilizing any content, always make sure you have the necessary licenses and permits.

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If you improperly make use of another person's IP, you could face legal consequences. The type of litigation and the gravity of the violation will be determined by a set of variables. It's crucial to remember that you should only utilize content that is either yours for which you have obtained permission. Infringing on IP is a problem that might have major legal repercussions. It is essential to keep legal issues at distance by exercising caution.

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Register Intellectual Property for Your Business: Some ideas can only be registered in specific countries. Others might want global registration to prevent any potential problems with someone from another nation. We advise that you go to your local patent office if you are unclear on how to register your IP in your community. For example, online registration for digital IPs such as books is common. Consult a lawyer who has expertise if you have an idea that is too valuable to discuss without adequate support. One person is all it takes to steal your concept. They could seize it and claim it as their own if you don't take the appropriate security measures.

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Ready to bring your startup to the next level? Apply to MassLight’s next batch. MassLight supplies capital and a dedicated tech team. We take equity in return. Have questions? Refer to our FAQ page.

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