Five-Step I/P Strategy Blueprint

An April 18, 2005 article from Law.com offers a five-step blueprint for an IP strategy:

1. prepare employee contracts with nondisclosure provisions protecting business information and trade secrets
2. consider if patent protection is available and worthwhile business methods, software designs or inventions of any type
3. File trademark applications based on an intent to use the mark in commerce
4. register copyrights to recover statutory damages and attorney fees for copyright infringement
5. conduct yearly internal audits of IP rights

The author concludes that "Engineers know that the time and money spent in creating a detailed blueprint can avoid added expense during production. The importance of IP assets to modern business reinforces the benefit of a similar commitment of resources to create and implement an effective IP strategy."