The Value Of IP Strategy For Business- Takeaway Message

Earlier today, I had the pleasure of speaking with members of the business community at the Mississauga Board of Trade on the topic of the value of IP Strategy for small to mid-sized business (SMEs).

When I pointed out that Canada has one of the lowest resident filing rates of IP in the industrialized world, the audience seemed quite interested to find out what we can be done to increase our global competitiveness. My message was two fold: FAMILIARIZE and APPLY.

1. FAMILIARIZE: Businesses need to familiarize themselves with the various IP tools available to them and understand the key differences between them. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has a great primer on IP, as does the United States Patent and Trademark Office.