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Did You Know
BC's digital media and wireless sector is comprised of over 1,300 companies generating revenues in excess of $3 billion per year. Read more
IP & Protection
Intellectual Property (IP) are legal property rights including copyrights, trademarks or patents over intangible assets such as creativity, human knowledge and innovation.
It is important to protect your business idea or innovation.
Why is it important?
IP rights are an important consideration for startup companies to protect new ideas and products throughout the process of taking the innovative technology to market. IP is also important in limiting the level of competition - enabling an entrepreneur to control and benefit from their idea or business.
For more information about intellectual property, consult a lawyer.
Types of IP
- Patent
- Copyright
- Trademark
Resources
- BC Business Registry: Resource Centre for Small Businesses
- Canada Business: What is Intellectual Property?
- Canada Legal Information Sources
- The Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch: Patents, Industrial Designs, Trademarks and Copyright
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- eBC Guide to Finding a Lawyer
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
- Intellectual Property Program, BC Ministry of Citizens' Services
- IP Lawyers in BC
- New Ventures BC: Managing your Intellectual Property seminar
- Small Business BC
PatentsA patent is a right, granted by government, to exclude others from making, using or selling your invention in Canada. Patents must be new, non-obvious and useful. Learn More |
CopyrightsIn the simplest terms, copyright means "the right to copy." In general, only the copyright owner - often the creator of the work - is allowed to produce or reproduce the work or to permit anyone else to do so. Learn More |
TrademarksA trademark is a word (or words), a design or a combination of these, used to identify the goods or services of one person or organization. A company name may also be a trademark.Learn More |