The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has introduced a new, user-friendly web site for small businesses to provide clear information on intellectual property (IP) issues.
A growing number of small businesses engage in some form of business overseas, including manufacturing and assembly, which opens them up to intellectual property abuse. The site offers some help in this area.
The site also offers reasonably clear steps to assess what, if any, intellectual protection a small business might need. If it looks like your business is vulnerable to IP piracy and theft, it is important to engage an attorney with experience in this area. Make sure the attorney is not only experienced in IP, but also in working with small businesses and their limited budgets. IP protection can get very expensive quite quickly, so be clear about the level of your risk exposure and the size of your budget. They probably cannot make you bullet-proof with any sized budget, but hopefully can begin to offer you some protection on this key asset.
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