"I have worked with Ian within the Enterprise Hub and have found his input and support to be really valuable. He is very bright and has the direct business experience to impart to clients which is difficult to find these days. I look forward to working with him in the future and would have no hesitation recommending him for any role."
Robert Biggs
SEEDA Mentor, High Growth Coach and Owner of Mentornet
In its broadest definition IP includes patents, trademarks (reputation), copyright, knowhow, designs and trade secrets and is vital for a busiess to survive. Without some form of IP there is very little to stop a competitor with deeper pockets copying your idea, taking your market share and driving you out of business.
Although we are not patent attorneys we do know attorneys in a number of practices (and independent IP practictioners) who can help to draft patent applications as required. Our principle consultant is an inventor on 10 applications and his company owns five pending and granted patents, two registered designs and a trademark. Our consultant has helped inventors file their own trademark, registered design and patent applications at the UK patent office and OHIM saving the inventors a small fortune on attorney fees.
We can also perform an audit and help a company to identify what IP they currently have and advise on how to protect it including using condifentiality agreements (non-disclosure agreements) before discussing their ideas with potential partners. We can also outline the options available to protect future IP and indicate whether a tradmark, patent or registered design is a suitable course of action or whether copyright or database rights are an option. We can guide a client on when a patent attorney is required and indicate likely costs that can be expected. We can also help companies raise finance to cover the IP costs if required.