Protect Your Intellectual Property

GREATER MANCHESTER ACADEMIC HEALTH SCIENCE NETWORK N POWERED BY GM AHSN InnovationNexus Healthcare Innovation: Protect Your Intellectual Property You can use IPR (intellectual property rights) to protect your ideas, trade secrets and creations - and your business' growth. Patents USP: the most robust IP protection Features: prevents others from exploiting it Cost: initial filing can be expensive; renewal fees Protection: up to 20 years Quirks: inventions need to meet strict criteria Tips: employ a patent agent Protecting your rights is a balance between need and affordability. NEDAF ORD Registered Design Rights USP: protection for 2D and 3D designs Features: protect the look Cost: registration costs, renewal fees Protection: can last up to 25 years Quirks: protects how it looks, not how it works Tips: you can licence your design Branding is a relatively inexpensive way of staking your claim, especially in a niche market. Trademarks USP: helps the owner to establish a brand Features: creates an identifiable product Cost: variable, plus renewal fees Protection: forever, renewable every 10 years Quirks: can be licenced to third parties Tips: not mandatory but very useful A brand-savvy company can leverage strategic marketing to help protect its IP. Copyright USP: a free automatic right of ownership Features: for printed, electronic, or audio-visual work Cost: free Protection: life +70 years in most cases Quirks: can protect software Tips: it doesn't even need a © statement Copyright can create recognition and awareness of expertise and ownership. 1 st 2nd 3rd Unregistered Design Rights USP: automatic protection for designs for 3D products Features: protects functional and innovative designs Cost: free Protection: up to 15 years from creation in the UK Quirks: only 3 years of protection from creation in the EU Tips: send yourself a copy by registered post It is always the owner's responsibility to defend their IP rights. Take steps to protect your ideas prior to discussing them outside of your company, and collaborating. Confidentiality Agreements (ŇDAS & CDAS) USP: protects your ideas and trade secrets Features: for when other IPRS are not available Cost: solicitor's fees Protection: for a specified length of time Quirks: can mutually protect both parties Tips: keep records of meetings and exchanges agreements are valuable to These protect ideas under development. Agreements & Contracts USP: defines responsibilities and expectations Features: who owns what, remuneration details Cost: solicitor's fees Protection: for a specified length of time Quirks: can be complex and in legalese Tips: take steps to fully understand the agreement Businesses who want to develop products for the NHS can access support via the Innovation Nexus, an initiative run by the Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network (GM AHSN). GREATER MANCHESTER ACADEMIC HEALTH SCIENCE NETWORK POWERED BY GM AHSN InnovationNexus Get IN touch Find out more at www.INtohealth.org Infographic produced by GM AHSN.