Modern SMEs:

IP Management

IP Guide for Small- and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

Protecting the Intellectual Property Rights of Your SME Abroad

 

 

By World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

 

IP Guide for SMEs 

 

Modern SMEs

Internet Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship: Barriers and Keys To Success

ICT for SMEs

Internet Power

Customer-focused Website

Social Media Marketing

Small Business Growth Strategies

e-Ventures

Guidelines on Technology Management for SMEs

Enterprise survey and technology auditing

Formulation of a Technology Strategy

Technology-driven Business Strategy

Competitive Excellence

Why is IP Relevant to Your SME?

IP for Competitiveness and Development

Why is IP Critical to Marketing of Your Products?

How Can IP Enhance the Market Value of Your SME?

How Can IP Enhance Export Opportunities?

Case Studies

Business Financing

Using IP Assets to Finance Your Business

IP Management

Primer on IPR

Start-Up Company's IP Strategies

Protecting Your Business Name

Managing Intellectual Assets of Your SME

Auditing Your IP

Developing IP Strategy

How can Your SME Acquire and Maintain IPR?

Protecting the IPR of Your SME Abroad

Protecting Trade Secrets of Your SME

Licensing of IPR

Trademarks

Protecting Your Business Name

Why Trademarks are Relevant to Your SME?

Trademark Registration

Patents

Using Patent Information

Turning Your Inventions into Profit-making Assets

Procedures for the Grant and Maintenance

Utility Models

Protecting Innovations by Utility Models

Copyright

How Can Your SME Benefit from Copyright

Resolving Disputes

How To Resolve Disputes Related to IP?

Before your SME can take advantage of intellectual property (IP) assets it has to acquire IP rights. A number of IP rights need to be granted or registered.

Systemic Innovation: 7 Areas

At the national level, IP offices of the respective countries are the only institutions entrusted with granting or registering IP rights. The procedure for their acquisition and maintenance may differ from country to country, but the basic principles and features of these procedures are common to most countries. One should also note that IP rights could also, where certain conditions are met, be acquired at a regional or international level (see "Protecting the Intellectual Property Rights of Your SME Abroad.")

Before seeking IP protection for your SME in a particular country, you are advised to study the country’s legal system that governs IP issues. There are various sources of information on IP legislation. Probably the best place to start would be the national IP office or copyright office to obtain the details of IP protection in your country. You may, in addition, consult the WIPO Collection of Laws for Electronic Access (CLEA). It is often advisable to seek guidance from an IP agent or attorney particularly when the relevant IP laws require that an applicant who is not residing in the country be represented by an agent or attorney entitled to practice in that country. The IP office or IP agent/attorney should be able to advise you as to whether special incentives, in terms of reduced fees, are available to SMEs for IP acquisition and maintenance.

 

 

Procedures for Different IP Rights

The procedure for obtaining protection and maintenance of intellectual property rights by your SME is outlined below:

  • Patents

  • Utility Models

  • Trade/Service Marks

  • Collective Marks

  • Well-known Marks

  • Geographical Indications

  • Industrial Designs

  • Copyright

  • Challenges in Intellectual Property Acquisition

    Challenges that most SMEs face in acquiring IP protection include the following:

  • inadequate manpower to undertake the necessary groundwork needed for IP acquisition, for example, initial searches and other pre-filing procedures;

  • high costs involved, particularly, in the patenting process which may go hand in hand with expenses for the translation of documents and fees for IP agents or attorneys;

  • inadequate “in-house” knowledge of IP rights and procedures for their protection.

  • To some extent, the burdens associated with IP acquisition may be diminished if you have a greater understanding of how the IP system can be used effectively.

    SMEs may also reduce the workload and costs of acquiring IP by applying for IP protection through regional or international arrangements when seeking IP protection abroad (see “Protecting the IP Rights of Your SME Abroad”), making use of special services offered to SMEs, wherever available, or opting for lower levels of protection as in the case of utility model protection, where the legislation of the country or countries in question allow such forms of protection.