A must-have manual for new entrepreneurs unfamiliar with Intellectual Property (IP)
Starting a new business thrills — from coming up with ideas and creating prototypes to getting money and growing big. But while rushing to create the next big thing, people often forget one key thing: protecting Intellectual Property (IP).
At the start, your new idea is your most valuable thing. It could be a product design, a computer program, a company name, or a unique way to provide a service. Protecting your IP from the beginning can make or break your success and help you avoid expensive court fights later.
This manual will show you the main ways to keep your startup’s new ideas safe.
1. Know What Counts as IP
You need to understand what IP is before you can protect it. For new companies, IP includes:
| IP Type | What it Protects | Example |
| Patent | Inventions, processes, technical solutions | A new AI-driven sorting algorithm |
| Trademark | Brand names, logos, slogans | Your startup’s name and logo |
| Copyright | Original works of authorship | Website code, marketing videos |
| Trade Secret | Confidential business information | Customer lists, pricing models |
2. Document Everything
From the initial napkin sketch to beta versions, record each stage of your creative process. This includes:
• Drafts and design files with dates
• Email chains about development talks
• GitHub or version control records
• Input from employees or contractors
Why? This log can help show ownership and back patent requests or protect against infringement.
Tools to Use: Notion, Google Drive (with the right permissions), or IP-focused platforms like IPfolio or Clara.
3. Pick the Best Protection Method
Each new idea might need a different IP plan. Here’s a quick guide:
• Software Code: Copyright + maybe file a patent for special features
• Brand Name or Logo: Get a trademark as soon as you can in key markets
• Hardware Design: Ask for a design patent
• Secret Process or Formula: Keep it hidden with NDAs and limit who can see it
Example: If you’re making a machine learning model trained on private data patent the structure and keep the training data secret.
4. File Soon and Smart
Filing IP papers can give your startup first rights. Patents go to the first to file, not the first to invent.
Think about:
• Submitting a provisional patent to set an early filing date (good for 12 months)
• Getting trademarks in markets you want to enter soon
• Using copyright registration for creative stuff you put online
Global Protection: Use the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or Madrid Protocol to cover multiple countries.
5. Use NDAs and IP Clauses
When you grow your team, hire freelancers, or pitch to investors, you’ll share sensitive info. Protect it with:
• Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) before you share key details
• IP Assignment Clauses in job contracts to make sure your company owns all created IP
• Confidentiality clauses in partnership or vendor deals
Checklist:
• NDA templates ready
• IP clauses in offer letters
• Legal review of partnership MoUs
6. Keep an Eye on and Defend Your IP
Filing is just the start — you need to keep watching and defending your IP.
• Set up Google Alerts and use tools like TrademarkNow or PatentSight
• Look for clones in app stores and online marketplaces
• Be ready to send cease and desist letters when you need to
Why it’s important: Investors and buyers look for IP portfolios they can defend and enforce — not just filings.
7. Include IP Costs in Your Fundraising Plan
IP protection is a long-term investment that builds your startup’s defensibility. Investors increasingly see a strong IP portfolio as a marker of innovation and a strategic moat against competition.
Pro Tip: In your pitch, showcase how your IP sets your business apart. Highlight what rights you’ve already secured — like filed patents or registered trademarks — and outline your roadmap for future filings.
Why it matters: Demonstrating a proactive IP strategy can increase investor confidence, especially in tech-heavy or innovation-first sectors, as your IP strategy sets you apart. Highlight rights you have secured and plans for future filings.
8. Seek Expert Support
Avoid managing all IP tasks alone. Reach out to:
- IP lawyers who understand your industry
- Patent professionals to draft technical specifics
- IP planners to map out your portfolio
Quick Tip: Some legal firms provide options like startup-friendly prices, payment delays, or equity-based deals.
Wrapping It Up: Focus on an IP-Centered Culture
These days, ideas and knowledge run the economy. IP is like gold for startups. Make sure protecting it becomes part of how your team operates:
Teach your employees
Plan for protection in your strategy
Keep an eye on risks as you expand
Protecting what you create helps more than just stopping copycats. It strengthens your reputation, attracts funding, and secures your company’s future value.