Protecting your ideas as intellectual property

Ideas and innovation are arguably the most significant drivers of value for nearly all successful businesses. New ideas form the basis of intangible assets held by a company, which on average account for 90% of a company’s value. [1]

Unfortunately, ideas alone can’t be protected. 

For legal protection (and to fully unlock their value), ideas need to be implemented or expressed in a way that the law recognises as a form of intangible, IP asset. IP can come in many different forms, each of which can provide a different opportunity and advantage for your business. Some IP must be officially registered, some must be kept completely secret. 

Knowing how your ideas can be protected is important, but also confusing. Please refer to this chart for an overview of how ideas can be protected under different categories of IP.

Disclaimer

This publication should not be construed as legal advice. It is necessarily brief and general in nature. Please seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters discussed in this publication.

[1] https://www.oceantomo.com/intangible-asset-market-value-study/