Know-how, confidential information and trade secrets, are not, strictly speaking, intellectual property rights. However, there is some overlap, and they tend to be treated in much the same way as formal IP rights when it comes to valuing or selling a company, so they...
Of course, many SMEs do understand the value of patents, and routinely file patent applications to protect their innovation. However, UK innovators are lagging behind those in many other countries when it comes to patent ownership. Perhaps it is no surprise that Japan...
Consider IP in terms of value as well as cost Is IP really ‘expensive’? The dictionary definition of ‘expensive’ is “commanding a high price and especially one that is not based on intrinsic worth (https://www.merriam-webster.com), and we...
It is a common myth that software inventions are not patentable in the UK and Europe, but this simply isn’t true. It is true to say that computer software per se is not patentable in the UK and Europe (and many other countries around the world). BUT that does...
If you follow my blogs, you’ll have heard me say that your intellectual property rights allow you to stop others from copying your innovation and muscling in on your market share. BUT, if someone does copy you, you have to take action to stop them. You might...
Why do patents cost so much…? …and are you maximising the value you’re getting for your money? I am often asked ‘why do patents cost so much…?’. Unfortunately, there is no one simple answer, but I thought I’d try and explain a...
