INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR STARTUPS
Startups do need legal support.
When founders and investors come together since the very beginning, they will need to sort out their equity rights, corporate structure, place of incorporation. The lawyer does not necessarily need to do something – many times it is enough with advice on steps to take.
Why is so important to work on your intellectual property protection?
Most products and services are protected by a combination of IP rights.
It can be patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret.
A startup would need to trademark their name and logo and to use trade secrets law to protect the design and components of its upcoming products.
The startup should use Non-Disclosure Agreements to ensure that they can restrict the appropriation of confidential information regarding the innovations by employees or third-parties. It is not only about trademark, agreements and trade secrets, it is also important to know what to do in each situation: a software developed by a freelancer, space that is being held on a short lease, customer list brought personally to the startup.
The protection of IP must be an integral part of the startup´s business strategy.