Intellectual property is a set of exclusive rights that protect intangible heritage of companies; both their innovative activity manifested in new products, processes or designs, and their business activity by exclusive identification of products and services offered in the market.
This intangible heritage plays a crucial role in positioning a company in the market. A brand, for example, is a valuable strategic asset that can build long-term relationships with clients, customers, suppliers, employees and shareholders.
Companies are still not fully aware of the importance of this intangible capital and often ignore the fact that industrial and intellectual property is the right tool to optimally manage and exploit it. However, integrating intellectual property into business strategy, in the same way as a financial or marketing strategy, is essential.
In practice, intellectual and industrial property rights, among other things:
- Provide a competitive advantage thanks to the monopoly they offer.
- Increase the value of the intangible elements thanks to the protection afforded them.
- Facilitate their transmission and exploitation.
- Allow policies to develop income-generating licenses.
- Increase the lifespan of products.
- Increase safety in exploitation.
- Convince or reassure business partners, financiers and customers.
Protection
- National Protection
By registering an industrial design the owner has exclusivity, but this right is territorial and only exists where the design is registered.The holder can extend the protection to other territories outside Spain, Spanish industrial design always having priority.
- International Protection
Since we are in a global economy, companies are starting to need to obtain protection for the same invention in other countries.More and more Spanish companies are protecting these inventions using protection procedures such as the PCT or European Patent.
How can an invention be protected outside of Spain?
There are different possibilities and the applicant must assess which option they are interested in depending on:
Geographical location - where is it needed?
The Language
Time and cost
Levels of intervention
The advice of a specialist in Industrial and Intellectual Property is essential. Her intervention is carried out at various levels:
Establish a strategy in Industrial Property
- Opportunity to invest in industrial property
- Protection and strategy appropriate to the nature of the assets, the needs and profile of the company (market, activity ...)
- Helps to make an informed decision
Protection of rights
- Processing of records
- Surveillance work (detection of incompatible records)
- Maintenance (renewal of records, changes in ownership ...)
- Detection of possible offenders
Optimize the portfolio of intangible assets adapting it to new legal requirements, company and market needs
Valuation of intangible capital (analysis of the benefits made through intangible assets)
Execution of related contracts (coexistence agreements, assignment, licenses, contribution in society, transfer of Know-How, etc ...)
Defense against possible infringing activities through legal actions (civil, contentious-administrative, criminal).
In all these aspects our agency, J.D. NUÑEZ PATENTES Y MARCAS provides you with the necessary advice for optimal management of your portfolio of intangible assets.