Getting your house in order: how IP due diligence pays off

What you need to know

• Early stage companies spend a lot of time looking for investment, and investors and commercialisation partners are increasingly looking for targets with a competitive IP position.
• Conducting your own due diligence in advance may not only reduce the time of a transaction, but also improve the commercial terms.
• It's important to know what questions should form part of an IP due diligence and seek advice to help resolve material issues that are uncovered.

For many early stage and fast growth companies, the most (or only) valuable asset is their intellectual property (IP). IP encompasses various rights such as patents, trade marks, copyright, designs and trade secrets, and is often what gives a company an edge over its competitors.