Almost all companies in New York have intellectual property that they want or need to protect. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to ensure that sensitive information is kept safe from rogue employees or other companies. One way to safeguard an idea is to ask those who know about it to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). It is also a good idea for businesses to take inventory of items that they should consider protecting.
Intellectual property could range from the logo a business uses to a product that it invented from scratch. In some cases, it may be a good idea to seek a patent for any idea that an organization comes up with. However, the process of obtaining a patent can be expensive and complex. Therefore, it might be better to seek a trademark or to defend any copyright protections that are granted by law.
Businesses that operate as partnerships should have written agreements as to how intellectual property will be divided if the partnership ends. This can be ideal whether partners turn against each other or the union dissolves amicably. By ensuring that a company has the right to continue using marks, words or other items that identify its brand, a business may be in a better position to survive a breakup.
Business owners who are interested in learning more about how to protect intellectual property rights may want to talk to an attorney. An attorney may be able to provide insight regarding applying for a patent or applying for a trademark. A legal professional might also help to craft an NDA or other documents aimed at limiting what a person can reveal about a trade secret. Finally, legal representatives may represent business owners in court if intellectual property disputes occur.