Intellectual Property

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Intellectual property if you’re self-employed

If you’re self-employed, you usually own the intellectual property even if your work was commissioned by someone else – unless your contract with them gives them the rights.

You usually will not own the intellectual property for something you created as part of your work while you were employed by someone else.

Here are four tips to help you navigate the world of IP and protecting your ideas – but it is really important to get proper legal advice before you register your IP.

What protection is on offer?

Before obtaining intellectual property protection, it’s important to understand the different types available and what they cost.

Here are the main options:

Patents can be a powerful form of IP, particularly if your idea is cheap and easy to copy, as they stop others from copying your product or service for up to 20 years both in design phase and while it is on sale.

With a Registered Design, the appearance of your product is protected for up to 25 years, but not the functionality of the idea itself. As many products are unpatentable, obtaining a Registered Design is a quick and cheap alternative.

Registered Trademarks protect pretty much anything that signifies the commercial origin of a good or service. This can include logos, symbols, words, slogans, sounds etc. Trademark registration provides legal certainty and gives a strong basis for licensing and franchising a brand.

Unregistered rights are far more expensive to enforce than registered rights, however you don’t have to apply for them in the UK and include unregistered designs and copyright.

Where do I file for IP?

It’s important to remember that all intellectual property rights are territorial, meaning they are only valid in certain countries. Only very few seek global protection as it incurs significant fees. The only places you’ll really need to protect your product are in the countries – both currently and potentially – you manufacture/trade in. The Intellectual Property Office can help you to not only register your IP in the UK, but also guide you through your overseas registration options as well.

How much will it cost me?

Before applying, you will need to budget for the prospective protection costs, such as application fees, search fees and drafting fees, as well as ongoing prosecution costs and annuity fees. Most businesses tend to focus on the former and neglect the latter. Make sure you don’t get caught out!

 

How can I put my IP protection to best use?

If you’re currently unable to produce your product or service to the scale desirable, it might be worth licensing your rights to a company than can. That way, you can still make a profit from your invention, but others will commercialise it.

You’ll also need to be in a position to defend your right if they are infringed. However, make sure your claim is well founded prior to launching proceedings, as a groundless threat of infringement may mean your competitor can make a claim against you.

Meet the team

Chris George<br />
Growth Hub Manager

Chris George

Growth Hub Manager

Chris is an experienced professional with over 30 years knowledge and experience in sales and marketing in the public sector along with 15 years working for two mainstream automotive manufacturers in the sub 10,000 fleet. Delivered sustainable change in a vast range of industries, whilst constantly updating and developing core competencies and knowledge.

Working in the Local Authority sector for the last 15 years has resulted in Chris turning around failing territories to becoming some of the best performing areas in the country, with excellent stakeholder engagement and a passion for premium delivery. Outside of work, Chris is a keen gardener, and also likes property restoration and reading.

Ashleigh Jackson<br />
Growth Hub Business Advisor

Ashleigh Jackson

Growth Hub Business Advisor

A proven senior influencer and sales professional with more than 25 years’ experience in brand building and driving category growth within the private sector.

“I have a strong research background, alongside vast experience in sponsorship and corporate events management.

My work has initiated good working partnerships with many Local Authorities across Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and London. I have also worked with many multi-national brands including KPMG, Barclays, EasyJet, Kingston Smith LLP, London Stansted Airport, Morgan Sindall and Heineken. I’m proud to be able to enhance on the work we do here at the CPCA Growth Hub and build on many success stories.

Away from the business, health and fitness is important to me, being in the great outdoors, and enjoying fun times and relaxation with family and friends”.

Stuart Thomas<br />
Growth Hub Business Advisor

Stuart Thomas

Growth Hub Business Advisor

Stuart is a former small business owner and former Business Link Advisor and has also worked as a project manager for an international IT company, overseeing a large number of IT projects for large corporate enterprises, as well as large public sector organisations.

Stuart has served as a director for an international timber trading company and has also been a director of a local independent radio station, where he mentored a number of new staff. Prior to this he spent time as a secondary school teacher, teaching IT and business studies at both GCSE and A level.

Liana Sannah Growth Hub Business Analyst

Liana Sannah

Growth Hub Business Analyst

Liana is an experienced professional with over 15 years’ experience as an Executive Assistant. Liana has previously been employed by Warner bros, Daily Mirror, Aviva and AXA. These roles have given her a wide range of skills and in a vast range of industries.

Liana has been working in the Local Authority sector for almost three years, as a Growth hub advisor and producing the Monthly BEIS report. In her leisure time, Liana enjoys cooking, interior design and watching movies.