Intellectual property is not much of a concern for some businesses. For others, it is the key to their success. If someone were to get hold of certain information, it could prove devastating. Thus, those business owners need to understand how they can protect it.
Here are some options:
Preventing those inside the company from sharing the information
An employer may hope that their employees are loyal to them, but they cannot be sure how loyal, and how long this loyalty will last should the employee leave. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is often enough to prevent an employee or former employee from sharing specific company information. The more specific, the better – you can’t just ban someone from ever mentioning anything at all about their workplace.
Preventing those outside the company from taking the information
Your competitors likely have some idea of what information you hold that could be of use to them. Others who are not yet in business but have an eye on an opportunity may also be quick to spot the potential of valuable information in your business.
It could be something as basic as an article or photo on your webpage. Or it could be something much more complex such as the code for a new app or the manufacturing plans for a new product.
There are several ways to protect intellectual property, depending on the type. A photo or article would need protecting in a different way than a plan for a new car engine, for example. Getting help to find and apply (or apply for) the appropriate protections gives you the best chance of ensuring that your intellectual property stays yours alone.