When you launch a startup, you often focus on developing the product, validating the business model, and finding customers. However, there's one key asset that many entrepreneurs forget: intellectual property.
Whether you have a personal brand, an online store, an app, or a new product, protecting your ideas from the start can make the difference between growth and facing legal issues.
Intellectual property (IP) is a set of legal rights that protect the creations of the human mind. This includes everything from your logo to your digital content, software, innovative products, or even a distinctive brand name.
Intellectual property types
• Industrial property: covers the registration of trademarks, patents, utility models, industrial designs, trade names, and franchises.
• Copyright: protects literary, artistic, musical, and audiovisual works, software programs, social media content, etc.
In short: if you created it and it's original, it has value... and you can legally protect it.
Why should entrepreneurs protect their intellectual property?
Here are 6 compelling reasons why you should consider protecting your intellectual property from the start of your project:
1. Protect your brand from imitations
Registering your trademark prevents others from using a similar or identical name. This way, you ensure that the recognition you build is exclusively yours.
2. Avoid legal problems in the future
Did you know you could be using a trademark that's already registered? If you don't do a prior search, you could receive lawsuits or have to change your brand identity, wasting time, money, and reputation.
3. Increase the value of your business
Intangible assets like your brand, your app, or your registered design increase the commercial value of your company, making it more attractive to investors, franchisees, or buyers.
4. Position your business as professional and trustworthy
A registered trademark conveys trust, security, and seriousness. It's a seal that you care about your business and your customers.
5. You can monetize your intellectual property
With your rights well protected, you can license, sell, or franchise your brand, design, or software and generate additional income.
6. You have immediate legal support
In the face of plagiarism or misuse, having your records allows you to act legally and defend your business.
What assets can an entrepreneur protect?
Whether you're a freelancer, startup owner, or digital creator, these are some assets you can (and should) legally protect:
| Asset | Type of Protection |
|---|---|
| Brand name | Trademark registration |
| Logo or graphic symbol | Trademark registration + Copyright |
| Slogan | Trademark registration |
| Website and content | Copyright |
| Innovative product | Patent or utility model |
| Packaging or product design | Industrial design |
| Mobile applications or software | Copyright |
| Trade name | IMPI registration |
How to start protecting your intellectual property?
The process may seem complex, but with the right support, it's easier than you think. Here's a basic guide:
1. Conduct a preliminary search to ensure your brand or idea isn't already registered.
2. Define what you need to protect based on the type of business.
3. Register your brand or creation with the appropriate authority (IMPI in Mexico, USPTO in the US, EUIPO in Europe).
4. Consult with a law firm specializing in intellectual property that can provide you with legal and strategic guidance.
5. Use IP symbols correctly: ® for registered trademarks, ™ for unregistered trademarks, © for copyright, ℗ for phonograms.
Many entrepreneurs have lost their brands due to not registering them. Imagine investing in branding, launching a campaign, and suddenly... someone else legally registers your brand before you do. Chances are you'll have to change your name and lose everything you've built.
This isn't just a legal issue; it's a business strategy.
Are you starting a business and don't know where to start?
At Innovamotion Agency, we help entrepreneurs, startups, and creators protect their intellectual property with clear, agile, and budget-friendly strategies.
- Free initial advice
- Trademark registration in Mexico and other countries
- Confidentiality agreements and licenses
- Digital content and software protection