Intellectual property
So, you’ve got a business idea - but how can you make sure no one else copies or uses it without your permission? That’s where protecting your intellectual property through things like patents, copyright and trademarks comes in. It’s worth the time and effort and easier than you think.
The Intellectual Property Office states that having the right type of intellectual property protection helps you to stop people stealing or copying:
- the names of your products or brands
- your inventions
- the design or look of your products
- things you write, make or produce
Copyright, patents, designs and trade marks are all types of intellectual property protection. You get some types of protection automatically, others you have to apply for. Businesses of any size can be at risk of IP infringement. By knowing and understanding your IP rights you can ensure that you are safeguarding your creativity effectively.
What do we offer?
One to ones
With the support of our partners, the Intellectual Property Office, the BIPC can provide you with free basic guidance and signpost you to your next move. Get practical assistance on intellectual property rights with our experienced BIPC team in a free one-hour one-to-one session.
Our Cambridge Central Library is part of the UK Patent Library (PatLib) Network.
Other online resources
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is ‘the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trademarks and copyright’. Their website is a comprehensive resource on intellectual property rights in the UK.
IPO Online Training Tools
The IPO offers some brilliant online training tools to help you understand all aspects of intellectual property in relation to your business. Set up a free account and away you go! Particularly recommended are IP Equip and IP Healthcheck.
The British Library
The British Library Business & IP Centre has some very practical articles on all aspects of intellectual property, from ‘What can you trademark in the UK?’ to ‘How to copyright a song’.
Espacenet
Espacenet has free access to over 120 million patent documents.
PATENTSCOPE
The PATENTSCOPE database provides access to international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications in full text format on the day of publication, as well as to patent documents of participating national and regional patent offices.
Cyber Security
Cyber security is the means by which individuals and businesses reduce the risk of becoming victims of a cyber attack.
Cyber security's core function is to protect the devices we all use (smartphones, laptops, tablets and computers), and the services we access - both online and at work - from theft or damage. It's also about preventing unauthorised access to the vast amounts of sensitive information we store on these devices, and online.
Protecting yourself and your business from cyber security risks can seem daunting but there are some simple steps you can take to ensure you have the basics in place.
For more information, see National Cyber Security Centre information for small and medium sized organisations.
