There is no disputing that a company’s Intellectual Property is their lifeblood. It is what sets them apart from the competition and drives growth within their sector. However, more is at stake than just the financial health of a single organization or a particular industry. Organized IP theft is costing the nation billions each year.
In fact, the most recent study conducted by The Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property found that IP theft from China alone costs the American economy anywhere from $225 billion to $600 billion a year. That’s not counting the billions of dollars lost from domestic IP theft! Yes, your company’s IP is its lifeblood, but it is also the lifeblood of every man, woman, and child in the United States. So what should you do to protect it? Here are some tips.
Register Your Trademark
Although registering your trademark gives legitimacy to any claims you might make if you feel your IP has been stolen, it isn’t grounds for a legal battle in the courts. It may make it easier to substantiate that you were the first to register an idea or a brand, but it isn’t legal fodder.
Provisional Patent Application
Here is where you get into the real battle zone. Once you’ve applied for a patent, you may be granted what is known as a Provisional Patent. This will protect your intellectual property while any claims of infringement are being pursued. Here is where you would use the services of professionals like the digital investigators Secure Forensics to track any data breaches which may have occurred. Remember, we are living in the Cloud in the 21st Century and if you or your hosting provider haven’t taken adequate security measures, your IP could very well have been breached!
Copyright Registration
Registering your copyright gives you the ammunition you need to take your battle to court. It is the strongest defense you will have. For example, if you feel your Intellectual Property was stolen and you hired the services of the pros at Secure Forensics to track a potential breach, what they find could hold up in a court of law if you’ve got that copyright registered. The government did the research, awarded you the copyright, and so you are protected under U.S. law.
Internet Security Is Both the Beginning and the End
The bottom line is also your beginning point when seeking to protect your company’s IP. Always ensure that any work you do on a connected device is protected by layer upon layer of security so that your walls will be impenetrable. Keep your security measures up to date and as cutting-edge as possible. If you feel a cybercriminal has breached your digital walls, contact those digital investigators mentioned above. Everything you do in this world of connected devices, the IoT (Internet of Things), has the potential to be stolen. Contact forensics as soon as you suspect a breach so that nothing further leaks out. Remember, you are protecting the survival of your company and helping to grow a strong economy at the very same time. It’s a win for everyone involved.
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