| Intellectual Property is increasingly being | | | | Stage 2 - Protection |
| recognised within organisations of all shapes and | | | | Having ensured all staff are aware of what the |
| sizes as a highly valuable and also unique asset. As | | | | organisation's intellectual property is it is then |
| the UK moves more and more towards a service | | | | possible to concentrate on protecting this valuable |
| based economy and away from its traditional | | | | asset at all costs. |
| heavy industry and manufacturing base the need | | | | The law relating to IP is in parts complex but |
| to manage your intellectual property is paramount | | | | overall is there to protect the owners of the IP. |
| as this may become your organisation's primary | | | | A simple training programme may be all it takes |
| asset in the future. | | | | to get everyone thinking about how they can |
| There are three main stages to ensuring the | | | | protect the intellectual property of the |
| effective management of intellectual property | | | | organisation. Alternatively the creation of a simple |
| within an organisation. | | | | checklist to use upon receipt of any request for |
| Stage 1 - Awareness | | | | information can go a long way towards the |
| One of the biggest challenges facing many | | | | protection of IP. |
| organisations is a lack of awareness and | | | | Stage 3 - Maximising the value |
| understanding about what their IP actually is. This | | | | Once everyone is aware of what constitutes their |
| is the base level skill in the management of IP and | | | | IP and what can be done internally and / or legally |
| until everyone throughout the organisation is | | | | to protect this you can then move onto stage 3 |
| aware of what constitutes their unique intellectual | | | | of the management of intellectual property. |
| property then it is impossible to move onto stage | | | | This is the stage where opportunities can be |
| 2 - protection. | | | | sought out to maximize the value and return on |
| It is this lack of awareness of what constitutes | | | | IP rights. Take the example of a university that |
| an organisation's IP that leads to vital information | | | | has done a great deal of research into a particular |
| being casually given away with no thought as to | | | | area that has commercial application. Should this |
| its value. This is admittedly more common at the | | | | simply be given away for free? Of course not, |
| junior level within organisations but can happen at | | | | everything has a market value and intellectual |
| the most senior levels too. | | | | property is no different. |
| It is vitally important for all organisations to | | | | Simply by brainstorming potential opportunities |
| analyse what makes up their IP and then not to | | | | many organisations have come up with incredibly |
| stop there but to take it to the next level which | | | | innovative ways to enhance the perceived value |
| is ensuring that all staff are aware of this. Once | | | | of their IP rights and ensure their own continued |
| this is achieved the management of IP within the | | | | success. |
| organisation can move onto stage 2. | | | | |