Intellectual Property: How to Protect an Intangible Asset

Intellectual property is something that is very important and valuable to your company. From the business name that you use to the logo that you created when you first launched your company, your intellectual property consists of everything that makes your business what it is today. That means you need to do everything in your power to protect it.

If someone out there decides to use your business name, for example, they could actually tarnish your reputation and hurt your chances of doing business in the future. By using your company’s name, they portray your business in a way you haven’t approved or have any control over, which means that the experience customers of the fraudulent business could unfairly taint their impression of your business, services or products. This is just one of many reasons you need to protect your company’s intangible assets at all costs.

Intellectual Property

There are some simple ways to keep intellectual property safe, according to Inc. One of the first steps is education – learning what can be protected and understanding the rules, regulations and rights covered with intellectual property law. This is crucial when moving to a new market in Mexico or Latin America where rules may differ from what you’re used to in the United States.

You should also keep a constant eye out for potential copyright infringement on the part of other companies that might be trying to use your intellectual property. As you move into a new market, others may pick up on your branding and signage and think of it as a way to make a quick buck at your expense. Keeping tabs on local markets can help you cramp down on counterfeiters fast.

Protecting yourself further with strong employment contracts is another savvy move. Including binding nondisclosure agreements or noncompete clauses can protect against employees leaving your organization with proprietary and protected information, while covering any products or services with strong sales contracts or licensing agreements can protect your intellectual property.

Finally, you can work with a trusted company to protect your intellectual property in places like Central America and Mexico. If and when you start doing business in these places, you are going to want to make sure your intellectual property is protected. It helps to have experienced professionals in your corner who will work hard to make sure that your new expansion is successful and that your products or services aren’t undermined by fakes or phonies.

SMG Consulting Services has been helping companies to protect intellectual property in foreign countries for years now. Whether you are planning to move some of your operations to a new country in the coming months or you suspect that your intellectual property may have been compromised in a different country recently, we would be more than happy to assist you as you fight to keep your intellectual property safe. Contact our office and let our team of legal and law enforcement consultants get to work investigating any potential theft of your intellectual property. Schedule an initial appointment to get started by contacting SMG Consulting Services today.

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