Reading, Writing And … IP

Why intellectual property education belongs in every school—
and how to make it happen.

Originally published by Investor’s Digest. Reprinted with permission.

Even though intellectual property has become a central element of innovation, entrepreneurship, engineering and creative industries, and even though students encounter intellectual property issues long before they enter the workforce, most receive little or no instruction on how ideas are protected or how rights are assigned.

As technology and collaboration tools expand, the absence of basic intellectual property literacy limits students’ ability to innovate responsibly and protect their own creative work. Schools at all levels can address this gap by introducing age-appropriate concepts early, reinforcing them throughout secondary education, and preparing high school and college students for the practical realities of employment and commercialization.