YEM
2nd May 2007, 15:38
North West Businesses Risk Millions Through Intellectual Property Failings
North West Networking IP Events announced in Preston (Red Rose Hub, 1.30pm – 5.30pm June 12th) and Manchester (University of Manchester, 1.30pm – 5.30pm 21st June. Leeds event TBC)
Manchester-based patent and trade mark attorneys Marks and Clerk and have joined forces with Blackburn-based YE Events, to announce a series of business networking events. The events are aimed at small businesses to help demystify the benefits of Intellectual Property (IP) protection and provide an opportunity to network with each other.
The first two events will take place in Preston and Manchester in June, with a third event taking place in Leeds in July, highlighting the risks to small businesses missing out on valuable income, from new technology or ideas because they don’t realise the importance of intellectual property rights.
A survey from the UK Intellectual Property Office recently revealed that almost 10% of companies fail to check company names for trademark infringements before commencing trading. And only 10% of businesses allocate intellectual property as a management responsibility.
Furthermore, as many as 50% of businesses failed to realise that publishing details of an idea before filing with the UK Intellectual Property Office risked invalidating a patent.
Dr. Paul Banford a partner at Marks and Clerk – and key speaker at the Manchester event - said, “Businesses everywhere are conditioned to insure assets like machinery and buildings without a second thought. But ideas can often be even more valuable – and it’s protecting this value that the latest statistics tell us too many businesses ignore.
“The survey has been a real wake up call for North West businesses. Businesses that aren’t protected are open to having new ideas copied without recourse. Development costs and future profits could all be potentially wiped out.
“Worse still, you may be guilty of copying someone else’s idea in ignorance – leaving yourself wide open to the risk of expensive litigation.”
Expert speakers at the events will provide a general introduction to the various areas of IP; patents, trade marks, designs and copyright and provides advice on how companies and entrepreneurs can protect and exploit their intellectual property to add real value to their business.
As well as dealing with the practical IP issues the events will also reveal the hidden benefits including using IP as a marketing tool to let other people know about new ideas; using IP as security for a mortgage; and, licensing IP so that other people can use it.
Event co-host Lucy Hamlin of YE Events urged North West businesses to attend. “We have put together a dynamic line up of IP experts to bring this important subject to life. We hope the events will strike the right balance between inspirational practical advice and plenty of time for people to network and make new contacts.
“YE Events is passionate about providing small businesses across the North West with access to information to help them achieve more success. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Marks and Clerk, a leading UK firm of patent and trade mark attorneys, to offer an interactive seminar which will add real value to delegates’ businesses.
“We hope that combining a networking event with a seminar on a very real issue will help to - not only to inspire business success but also – allow small businesses the chance to make new contacts and form profitable new business relationships.”
Businesses are also advised that places at each event are strictly limited with tickets available from just £25 (YE Magazine Subscribers pay just £15) by calling 01254 503853.
Preston Event - 12th June, Red Rose Hub, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Manchester Event - 21st June, Manchester Conference Centre, 1.20pm - 4.30pm
Leeds Event - July - Date & Location TBC
For more information on YE Magazine, visit www.ye-mag.co.uk
North West Networking IP Events announced in Preston (Red Rose Hub, 1.30pm – 5.30pm June 12th) and Manchester (University of Manchester, 1.30pm – 5.30pm 21st June. Leeds event TBC)
Manchester-based patent and trade mark attorneys Marks and Clerk and have joined forces with Blackburn-based YE Events, to announce a series of business networking events. The events are aimed at small businesses to help demystify the benefits of Intellectual Property (IP) protection and provide an opportunity to network with each other.
The first two events will take place in Preston and Manchester in June, with a third event taking place in Leeds in July, highlighting the risks to small businesses missing out on valuable income, from new technology or ideas because they don’t realise the importance of intellectual property rights.
A survey from the UK Intellectual Property Office recently revealed that almost 10% of companies fail to check company names for trademark infringements before commencing trading. And only 10% of businesses allocate intellectual property as a management responsibility.
Furthermore, as many as 50% of businesses failed to realise that publishing details of an idea before filing with the UK Intellectual Property Office risked invalidating a patent.
Dr. Paul Banford a partner at Marks and Clerk – and key speaker at the Manchester event - said, “Businesses everywhere are conditioned to insure assets like machinery and buildings without a second thought. But ideas can often be even more valuable – and it’s protecting this value that the latest statistics tell us too many businesses ignore.
“The survey has been a real wake up call for North West businesses. Businesses that aren’t protected are open to having new ideas copied without recourse. Development costs and future profits could all be potentially wiped out.
“Worse still, you may be guilty of copying someone else’s idea in ignorance – leaving yourself wide open to the risk of expensive litigation.”
Expert speakers at the events will provide a general introduction to the various areas of IP; patents, trade marks, designs and copyright and provides advice on how companies and entrepreneurs can protect and exploit their intellectual property to add real value to their business.
As well as dealing with the practical IP issues the events will also reveal the hidden benefits including using IP as a marketing tool to let other people know about new ideas; using IP as security for a mortgage; and, licensing IP so that other people can use it.
Event co-host Lucy Hamlin of YE Events urged North West businesses to attend. “We have put together a dynamic line up of IP experts to bring this important subject to life. We hope the events will strike the right balance between inspirational practical advice and plenty of time for people to network and make new contacts.
“YE Events is passionate about providing small businesses across the North West with access to information to help them achieve more success. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Marks and Clerk, a leading UK firm of patent and trade mark attorneys, to offer an interactive seminar which will add real value to delegates’ businesses.
“We hope that combining a networking event with a seminar on a very real issue will help to - not only to inspire business success but also – allow small businesses the chance to make new contacts and form profitable new business relationships.”
Businesses are also advised that places at each event are strictly limited with tickets available from just £25 (YE Magazine Subscribers pay just £15) by calling 01254 503853.
Preston Event - 12th June, Red Rose Hub, 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Manchester Event - 21st June, Manchester Conference Centre, 1.20pm - 4.30pm
Leeds Event - July - Date & Location TBC
For more information on YE Magazine, visit www.ye-mag.co.uk