Scottish businesses to get greater intellectual property support
Businesses in Scotland get greater intellectual property support with the launch of IP for Business from the Intellectual Property Office.
The potential for businesses in Scotland to succeed and expand has received a big boost with the launch of new support tools to help small firms identify, protect and grow their intellectual property assets.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has launched ‘IP for Business’ - five business tools which make sure firms can tap into up-to-date guidance to help manage their intellectual property (IP) and get more relevant advice from their accountants and other business advisers.
The tools respond to the challenge of making sure businesses can generate value from ideas against a backdrop of poor understanding of intellectual property rights and how to exploit them. At the centre of the toolkit is IP Equip - a new, free interactive online training tool that helps businesses and their advisers to identify assets which may be protected by intellectual property rights and think through the strategy for protecting them.
Minister for Intellectual Property Lord Younger said:
Intellectual Property is a prospect which small businesses often find rather daunting. However, what ‘IP for Business’ shows, is that with the correct support and guidance this doesn’t have to be the case.
The perceived barriers to protecting and managing IP successfully can be easily overcome. All businesses, regardless of their size or turnover, can use these products and I would urge them to do so to tap in their full growth potential.
Colin Meager, Scottish Enterprise Intellectual Assets Specialist Team Leader said:
Scottish Enterprise works closely with the UK Intellectual Property Office to assist Scottish businesses in the identification, management and protection of their intellectual assets and welcomes the launch of these tools. The tools will greatly assist businesses in the development of their IP protection strategy, which is fundamental to both business growth and international success.
Pulsetta, an Aberdeen based manufacturer of gluten-free bread and other bakery products, understand how important IP is to their business. They recognise the value that can be gained from properly managing their IP and advises all SMEs to consider their IP from the start.
Dr Karsten Karcher, CEO and founder of Pulsetta, said:
Protecting your intellectual property is especially important in the food industry as people can easily copy your ideas. In terms of your ideas, I would always say IP asset protection has to come first. If you’re not protected you could lose them.
Other products launched include:
- IP Equip app which is available to download free from the Apple store iTunes and Android App store. This will give access to IP information on the go
- IP Basics which is a range of new guides for business owners, explaining how to maximise the potential of IP
- IP Health Check which allows business owners to assess their own business for free with a tailored report to identify and value their IP
- IP Master Class which is a popular course which enables advisors to advance their knowledge
- more details on and access to the products will be available via the IPO website
Notes to editors
- For media enquiries, please contact Clare Saunders on 01633 813 882 or Jamie Pike on 01633 813 765
- For emergency media calls out-of-hours please contact the duty press officer at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 020 7215 3505
- The Intellectual Property Office is within the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) and is responsible for the national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.
- IP plays a vital role in encouraging business growth and success. Understanding the IP a business owns or uses and how to manage this strategically can offer significant benefits to a business
- The full list of business support tools launched as part of ‘IP for Business’ are:
- IP Basics – Straightforward free guides to understanding your IP
- IP Equip – Free, quick and easy online IP training tool for professionals who advise businesses
- IP Equip app – Free, quick and easy IP advice at your fingertips
- IP Health Check – Asses your own business for free with a tailored report to identify and value your IP
- IP Master Class – Reach your potential with comprehensive and in depth IP training
- The IPO are holding a launch event on 18 February 2014 at Mitchell Library, North Street, Glasgow. The event will run between 9:30am and 11:30am, offering invited guests an opportunity to trial the tools