{"id":4615,"date":"2023-05-30T15:12:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T22:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/?p=4615"},"modified":"2025-10-21T14:24:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T21:24:23","slug":"protecting-your-business-protecting-your-intellectual-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/protecting-your-business-protecting-your-intellectual-property\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Your Business: Protecting Your Intellectual Property"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"co-flex_row co-flex_row__blue co-flex_row__long-form-text co-flex_row__next_row__blog-contributors\" >\n\t<div class=\"co-flex_row--row co-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form--block co-long_form--block__nomedia prow items-start \">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form--text pcol-md:12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-long_form--content\"><h2>Protecting Your Business: Protecting Your Intellectual Property<\/h2>\n<p>Anything you create or build has the potential to be copied by someone else, and depending on how mission-critical the idea is, you may want to protect it legally. Protecting your IP assets also lets you maintain a competitive advantage and ensures that your hard work and financial investments are used to your business\u2019s advantage.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Protecting Your IP in the US<\/h3>\n<p>If you need to register a patent, design, trademark, or plant variety, the USPTO website has information and search tools to help you prepare to apply for IP protection. For example, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/trademark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)<\/a> checks that the item you want to protect isn\u2019t currently trademarked.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">US trademark requirements at the US Patent and Trademark Office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Copyright<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes you don\u2019t have to apply for intellectual property protection. If you\u2019ve written a book, composed a song, filmed a movie, or painted a work of art, it will be protected by \u2018copyright\u2019 automatically. You\u2019ll need to prove you\u2019ve created it, but you don\u2019t officially \u2018apply\u2019 for copyright as protection exists immediately after you\u2019ve created the work.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Patents<\/h3>\n<p>Patents stop others from using, making, or selling a certain invention for up to 20 years. A patent is an exclusive right granted by the Government that protects the concept or idea behind your product.<\/p>\n<p>Patents will usually protect:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>new processes, machines, articles of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement<\/li>\n<li>new, original, and ornamental designs<\/li>\n<li>plant rights for any distinct and new variety of plants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Be aware if you discuss, publish, sell, or demonstrate your invention or design in public before filing a patent or design registration application, it may be rejected (as the idea is in the \u2018public domain\u2019. To help you share any new idea, draw up a confidentiality agreement so all employees, potential investors, and other parties of interest sign it before you disclose any confidential information.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Trademarks<\/h3>\n<p>A trademark uniquely identifies your business among others. It could be a logo or a brand name (word, name, symbol, or device) that indicates the source of the goods. A service mark is the same except that it identifies the source of a service rather than a product.<\/p>\n<p>Trademarks can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Words like Nike\u2019s \u2018Just do it\u2019 catchphrase<\/li>\n<li>Logos such as the golden arches of McDonald\u2019s<\/li>\n<li>Shapes like Coca-Cola\u2019s bottle design<\/li>\n<li>Colors such as UPS\u2019s Pullman brown<\/li>\n<li>Sounds and smells, for example, the roar of the MGM lion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A trademark protects your item, not the individual parts of it. Once you register your trademark, you may use the \u00ae symbol alongside it. Until then, you can \u2018claim\u2019 it by using the <sup>TM<\/sup> symbol.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Trade Secrets<\/h3>\n<p>A trade secret could be a formula, pattern, method, or process that\u2019s used in your business and gives you a chance to get an advantage over your competitors, that you don\u2019t want to legally protect because it\u2019s either too expensive, it\u2019s not that unique, or you don\u2019t want everyone to know after 20 years (a famous example is KFC\u2019s eleven herbs and spices recipe which is a trade secret only).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Be Careful Who You Speak With<\/h3>\n<p>Before talking to another person about your idea, research their credentials thoroughly. Look on the Internet for information about their career and double-check by speaking with a few of their previous clients or partners.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Document Everything<\/h3>\n<p>If you are ever drawn into a legal battle, it will help enormously if you have written and dated proof of everything relating to your ideas. Make it a business-wide habit to have all paperwork documented twice, making use of the cloud to back up everything.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Have Layers of Information Disclosure<\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t hand over everything to any one person. Have a one-page outline that doesn\u2019t reveal everything, then provide more information as you gain confidence in the person you\u2019re talking to.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Protecting Your IP Overseas<\/h3>\n<p>The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) helps businesses protect IP assets overseas. It\u2019s a global forum site for intellectual property services, policy, information, and cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>Take a look at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wipo.int\/about-wipo\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website<\/a> to find out more.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Summary<\/h3>\n<p>In the end, the last thing you want is for your IP to fall into the wrong hands. You don\u2019t want your competitors profiting from your ideas and hard work, nor do you want disgruntled employees walking off with trade secrets. It\u2019s often a good idea to talk to a lawyer who specializes in IP law, so you can be sure you have the right kind of protection for your business.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"co-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/business-loans\/#businesscontactform\">BUSINESS LENDING \u00bb<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0<a class=\"co-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/business-services\/#businessservicescontact\">BUSINESS BANKING SERVICES \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"co-flex_row co-flex_row__last co-flex_row__blog-contributors\" >\n\t<div class=\"co-flex_row--row co-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor--img_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/WhiteClaire_scu-43_300x300.jpg\" class=\"co-blog_contributor--img\" alt=\"Claire White VP Business Banking Services\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/WhiteClaire_scu-43_300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/WhiteClaire_scu-43_300x300-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/files\/WhiteClaire_scu-43_300x300-75x75.jpg 75w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"co-blog_contributor--name\">Claire White<\/h3><div class=\"co-blog_contributor--title\">VP Business Deposit Services<\/div><div class=\"co-blog_contributor--bio text-component\"><p>Claire White is the Vice President of Business Deposit Services at Sound Credit Union. She leads a team of Business Services Officers and Specialists who work closely with local businesses to provide personalized support and smart banking solutions. Claire is a Certified Cannabis Banking Professional (CBP) and helps ensure Sound&#8217;s cannabis banking program meets the highest standards of compliance and care. She also oversees the credit union&#8217;s\u00a0treasury management program, helping business members access secure, efficient tools to manage their money with confidence. Claire is passionate about making business banking simple, accessible, and tailored to the unique needs of each member.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-blog_contributor--social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Connect<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/clairepwhite\" class=\"co-social_share--link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"LinkedIn\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"icon-svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"Icon LinkedIn\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-content\/themes\/soundcu-theme\/images\/sprite-icons.svg#linkedin\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protecting your IP assets also lets you maintain a competitive advantage and ensures that your hard work and financial investments are used to your business\u2019s advantage. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/protecting-your-business-protecting-your-intellectual-property\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":11031,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-commercial"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4615"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17257,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4615\/revisions\/17257"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}