26/04/2024
My favourite day of the year? Who would have thought that Intellectual Property is so important that it has its very own day? Unfortunately, too many SMEs, start-ups, charities and multinational companies don't credit IP with sufficient importance and suffer expensive consequences. The expense could be financial or reputational, or both.
If you're trying to protect your own content or using other people's creations, if you play music in your business, if you use images in social media, if you are influenced by another organisation's trademark, you really do need to pay attention to IP.
Too often, in my experience, IP is an afterthought or no thought for businesses until a cease and desist letter arrives. If the charge behind the letter is correct, you may have to re-brand, re-publish, re-print, re-stock and most certainly re-think your approach to IP.
You don't have to be Tesco and Lidl scrapping over yellow circles - sole traders can be equally affected and not have the resources to refute or repel the challenge from a third party.
If you've been thinking at all about the IP you create or use, today's the day to do something about it. Always happy to have a conversation that may just prevent you from being caught up in the IP maze.
