Title: PROCESS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
Course: INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP > Section: PROCESS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION

You have now familiarized yourself with what intellectual property is all about. You have also learned the different types and forms of IP rights. In this chapter, you will learn about the details of the process of protecting a business idea, innovation, or any other invention. Entrepreneurs and business persons need to know the basics of intellectual property protection. The purpose of this lesson is to enable you understand the process of intellectual property protection.

8.1 Introduction

You have now familiarized yourself with what intellectual property is all about. You have also learned the different types and forms of IP rights. In this chapter, you will learn about the details of the process of protecting a business idea, innovation, or any other invention. Entrepreneurs and business persons need to know the basics of intellectual property protection. The purpose of this lesson is to enable you understand the process of intellectual property protection.

8.2 Lesson Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, you will be able to;

8.2.1   Provide the steps to be taken in protecting intellectual property rights

8.2.2.  Articulate the measures to be taken to ensure trade secrets are protected

8.2.1 Intellectual Property Protection Process

Intellectual Property Protection is protection for creations of the mind such as inventions, symbols, literary and artistic works, names, and images and any other unique materials.  This is done by use of by using: Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights. Trade secrets are not protected by Intellectual property laws; nonetheless, entrepreneurs have means and ways of protecting them. The other three Intellectual property rights: Patents, copyrights and trademarks follow different processes of protection, but they share the following initial processes(a) Seeking the professional experience help of  IP organizations in your country to help in  planning  for success and avoid theft of  new ideas, designs, and other concepts.(b) determine what you need to protect when it comes to IP(c) Decide which of your ideas fall under which specific protection option(d)File as quickly as possible to reduce your chance of losing out on protection.

Make sure to plan and execute your planned strategy as soon as you start your business or invent something new. Avoid filing and re-filing applications, this can get expensive and time consuming.

E-tivity 8.2.1 Intellectual Property Protection Process

Numbering, pacing and sequencing | 8.2.1
Purpose | The purpose of this e-tivity is to  enable you understand the process of protecting intellectual property rights
Brief summary of overall task | Read this linked  article http://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/intproperty/450/wipo_pub_450.pdf Explain the process of intellectual property rights protection for Patents, trademarks and copyrights
Spark | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxeuCPaGeHY Watch this video and explain why it is necessary to file for  file for IPRs
Individual task
a)     Draw a flow chart of patent protection process

b)    Draw two  trademarks  that are common in your country and give two methods used in their protection

c)     Write down three dos and don’ts of copyrights protection

d)    Explain two methods of protecting  trade secrets in one brief paragraph.
Interaction begins
a)          Post your flow chart process of patent protection.

b)          Post the trademarks you have identified and the methods of protection

c)          Post your dos and don’ts of copyrights protection

d)          Provide positive and constructive feedback on team learners ‘views and ideas. Do this on the discussion forum  8.2.1
E-moderator interventions
a)     Ensure that learners are focused on the contents and context of discussion.

b)    Stimulate further learning and  generation of new ideas

c)     Provide feedback on the progress the learners are making.

d)    Round up the e-tivity
Schedule and time | This task  should take two hours
Next | The      Trade Secrets and measures for protection

8.2.2 Trade Secrets and measures for protection

Trade secrets refer to the information used by a business entity or in manufacturing processes to gain an advantage over competitors. Businesses can protect such secrets from being used by others. Most successful small family businesses protect their   trade secrets for generations.  Similarly Giant companies do likewise.  Coca-Cola has always prided itself of having a secret formula for their Coke brand and such a formula can be protected from use by other industry players by law. Trade secrets may include: Formulas, patterns, list of customers, databases, chemical compounds, and combination of ingredients for commercial products, process of manufacturing and compiled information. Trade secrets must be protected  by putting in place measures that include :Creating protocols to be followed by all employees while dealing with sensitive information, ensuring proper security measures such as visitors pass and out-of-bounds spaces, keeping confidential files in locked cabinets, and use passwords for computer systems, avoiding discussing business secrets in public places, keeping important business travel and plans secret, controlling the flow of information; access on a need-to-know basis and ensuring that employees are well-treated and respected to avoid any reason for malice.

E-tivities 8.2.2 Trade Secrets and measures for protection

Numbering, pacing and sequencing | 8.2.2
Purpose | The purpose of this e-tivity is to  enable you understand the process of protecting Trade Secrets
Brief summary of overall task | Read this linked  article https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/keeping-trade-secrets-secret/ and Explain how trade secrets can be protected
Spark |
Individual task | In a short paragraph, explain two methods of  protecting  trade secrets
Interaction begins | a)      Post your responses in forum 8.2.2 b)      Provide positive and constructive feedback on team learners ‘views and ideas. Do this on the discussion forum  8.2.2
E-moderator interventions
a)    Ensure that learners are focused on the contents and context of discussion.

b)   Stimulate further learning and  generation of new ideas

c)    Provide feedback on the progress the learners are making.

d)   Round up the e-tivity
Schedule and time | This task should take two  hours
Next | Legal forms of businesses

Cluster

Assessment Questions

Question 1

Which of the following requires a prototype in the process of filing or IPRs?

- A trademark
- A patent
- A copyright
- All of the above

Question 2

Which one of the following is not protected by Intellectual property law?

- Copyrights
- Patents
- Trademarks
- Trade secrects

Question 3

One of the following is not a method of protecting trade secrets. Which one?

- Create protocols to be followed by all employees while dealing with sensitive information
- Ensure proper security measures at the gates
- Avoid discussing business secrets in public places
- Keep important business travel and plans

Question 4

In the phrase ‘quid-pro-quo’, quo stands for?

- knowledge disclosed to the public
- monopoly granted for the term of the patent
- exclusive privilege of making, selling and using the invention
- None of the above

8.4 References

1. (n.d.). What is intellectual property? Retrieved from

http://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/intproperty/450/wipo_pub_450.pdf

1. (2018, February 23). How Much Money I Made Licensing My Ideas. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxeuCPaGeHY
2. Hannah, D. R. (n.d.). Keeping Trade Secrets Secret. Retrieved from https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/keeping-trade-secrets-secret/

Event: PROCESS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION (Lesson opens)