Protecting intellectual property

All businesses have intellectual property (IP) worth protecting, regardless of their size or sector. Your IP is likely to be a valuable asset. It could include your brand or the name of your business, the products or services you make or provide, or the written or artistic material you create. Securing and protecting your IP could be essential to your business' future success, so it's vital to understand your rights and how the law can help you.

This guide explains the importance of protecting intellectual property. It describes the types of legal protection available for IP rights, including patents, trade marks, design rights, registered designs and copyright.

It also explains the role of an IP audit and tells you how to carry it out. Finally, it explains the range of things you can do to protect and manage your IP rights, and prevent intellectual property infringement.