New business guide to intellectual property released

03.08.08

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) has launched a new guide to help small businesses exploit their IP.The booklet, entitled ‘How Licensing Intellectual Property Can Help Your Business’ provides information on IP licensing and to how clinch a licensing deal.

The UK-IPO said licensing intellectual property was important to all types of businesses and could be a key factor in achieving success, particular for manufacturers, designers or those that invent products.

Ian Fletcher, chief executive of UK-IPO, said:

“The 'Innovation Nation' White Paper published earlier this year, sets out the government's goal to make the UK the best place in the world to run a creative, innovative business. We live in a world where open innovation - the exchange of ideas, knowledge and intellectual property - is becoming the way in which businesses develop and build new products.”

Fletcher said licensing was the fundamental mechanism within the intellectual property system that allowed for open innovation.

He added: “We want businesses to gain the most value they can from their intellectual property and also to accelerate innovative development by working in collaboration with other businesses in using IP.”

The booklet can be downloaded at www.ipo.gov.uk

© Crimson Business Ltd. 2008