Intellectual property or IP refers to an intangible work, invention, or creation of the human mind, to which a person can claim rights and property, for which he can apply for copyright or trademark. As for businesses, intellectual properties in websites are bits and pieces of your business ideas, strategies, or other elements and components. Basically, these are the things that separate you from the rest of your competitors, since it all came out of your own intellect.
Your company’s IP is composed of all the original ideas, concepts, and creations produced by your employees that later on become the company’s [best] assets. The following are examples of company IPs:
- articles
- blog posts
- images
- videos
- audio clips
- illustrations
- taglines
- slogans
- inventions and innovations
- work processes
- music
- case studies
These are only some of the most valued company assets or IPs that support your business, your brand, and its day-to-day processes. Meanwhile, what are intellectual properties in websites? Is your company still entitled to request for trademarks and copyright to everything you post on your website, despite knowing that websites are made for public views and other uses? Technically, yes. These assets are worth exploiting to make money because all [original] ideas come from your employees’ intellect, and it’s something to be valued.
With that, most of your website’s content–the text, videos, data, graphics, or logo–can be subjected and protected by copyright. Still confused about all its technicalities and how to acquire trademarks and copyright? Well, this article can lay down things you need to learn about intellectual property in websites.
Copyright
Since your IP has value, and it has become one of your company’s most significant asset, you’ll want to secure and protect it. With that, you can apply copyright as some sort of protection over your assets.
Copyright, from the term itself, is merely the right of a creator over their creation, most likely literary pieces which involve writing, sketching, or drawing. This covers examples like books, softwares, articles or blog posts, graphic designs, sketches or drawings, and so much more.
Having a business website requires you to also publish content which can serve as helpful information for viewers and customers. However, anything you publish on your webpage becomes publicly available and anyone can just grab, copy, and paste it elsewhere. To claim authority or right over your content (may it be articles or blog posts, graphic designs, etc.), you may then file for a copyright application.
Patent
Patent, on the other hand, protects an even more intangible concept, which is an idea. Patent rights are granted to an inventor or creator in exchange for public exposure of the idea or invention at hand. In spite of that, you can’t just file a request for patent rights in a flash. Applicants who wish to receive patent rights should first pass a specific criteria made solely for filing of patency:
- Novelty – to check whether or not your proposed idea or invention is actually new or original
- Inventive step – to distinguish whether or not your proposed idea or invention is as effective or real as it claims to be, following the proper steps or methods
- Industrial applicability – to determine if your proposed idea or invention can be used in some kind of industry, for the benefit of many
Once you’ve passed all three, you can now file for a patent application, but only in your home country first before elsewhere.
Trademark
A trademark is a type of right which is most commonly given to words or a group of words, designs, or symbols that you have created for your business. This can be anything; your tagline, slogan, brand logo, brand name, and so much more. Ever saw a tiny symbol that reads ™ at the end of a word? That symbolizes your claimed trademark protection over a particular logo or phrase. Meanwhile, the ® signifies that a specific trademark has been registered authentic. All these you can discuss and arrange with a trademark attorney in the Philippines, should you wish to have anything on your website recognized as a trademark.
Wrapping Up
Although intellectual properties are frequently intangible, unlike tools and equipment, stock, or inventory, it can serve as one of the company’s contributors toward success, compared to tangible assets. More often than not, IPs are a business’ most valuable asset. After all, your business has worked hard for all of these resources, might as well give credit where credit is due.