The start of the New Year brings with it great
possibilities. If you are a small business owner, you probably
have big ideas for the year ahead, such as new product launches
and visibility for your goods. Whatever the scenario, be sure
to make IP protection part of your plan.
Your intellectual property, your own innovative
idea is comparable to your identity. Once it's stolen, it's hard
to get it back. Protecting your intellectual property rights early
will help safeguard your product or service from illegal replication
down the road.
The counterfeiting and piracy of consumer goods
and products is steadily on the rise, both in the United States
and abroad, and poses threat to the U.S. economy. Small-businesses
are particularly vulnerable because they often lack resources
and expertise.
Recognizing that this is an increasing concern,
last year the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched
a small business education program. This program is designed to
educate small business owners about the increasing problem of
intellectual property theft and to inform them about the steps
they can take to protect their intellectual property. As part
of the program, the USPTO has also launched a Web site http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness
dedicated to providing information particularly relevant to small
businesses.
For more information on benefits of strong IP
protection, both in the United States and overseas, and for details
on filing for IP protection, please visit:
http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness.
NBA
Strategic Partner - U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
NBA
Resource Article - Join
Together to Fight IP Theft, Stop Fakes
NBA
Resource Article - Small
Business Accomplishments in 2003/2004
Reprint
of this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National
Business Association; the article is for informational purposes
for our members and viewers of our Web site.
