Protecting your intellectual property rights and design assets
Newhaven Chamber of Commerce members explored how to protect their business ideas, brands and creative work at the latest networking breakfast, with guest speaker Clive Bonny, Managing Director of Strategic Management Partners.
With experience helping businesses tackle intellectual property challenges since 1990, Clive brought the subject to life through examples of counterfeit goods, copied products and concerns about books being reproduced or used by AI without permission.
His central message was simple: businesses may have more valuable intellectual property than they realise. Names, logos, product designs, written content and confidential know-how can all be important assets, with different forms of protection available.
Clive explained how trade marks and registered designs can help businesses safeguard what makes them distinctive and support action against copycats. He also explored the commercial opportunities, including licensing products or methods to others in return for royalties.
The discussion highlighted the potential cost of infringement for smaller businesses, from lost enquiries and sales to the time and expense involved in resolving disputes. Members also considered the challenges facing authors and other creators as AI use expands.
Attendees were offered a free IP asset review by Clive, an IP adviser and dispute mediator, to help them identify what they own and where protection may be worth considering.
Thank you to Clive for an engaging and thought-provoking session, and to everyone who joined us.
The takeaway for local businesses: understand what makes your business valuable, check how it is protected and take action before a problem arises.
For details of our breakfast events and speakers, please check out our calendar of events.
