Real innovation can be hard to grasp and, when you come up with the right innovative idea at the right moment for the market, it can potentially explode into a whole new level of profits. As such, it should be no surprise that there are plenty out there who would have no problems undermining, copying, or downright stealing your business’s ideas. You need to take steps to protect them.
Make Sure Your Brand Is Known
The first step you should take is to make sure that it’s a lot harder to rip off your brand because it’s easy for others to recognise yours as well as any copycats out there. Spreading awareness of the brand is going to make it a lot more recognizable, meaning that people will be able to better tell the difference between the original and any of the copycats that might pop up here and there.
Establish Your Brand Identity
When it comes to what makes your business unique, there are two specific categories. Trademarks are the first of those categories. These can include things like the brand name, logo, particular imagery, mottos, and so on. Brand protection lawyers like Blake Morgan can work with you to make sure that you claim these trademarks for yourself as, without some legal protection, it’s hard to enforce them. For instance, other businesses can claim that they came up with the exact same business name independently and, depending on the circumstances, it can be harder to defend your position legally against such claims.
Put Your Stamp on Your Ideas
Trademarks require you to register them to make sure that they are yours. However, when it comes to specific methods of work, products, techniques, and technologies that you create, these cases are more cut and dry. If you can prove that you created them earlier, then it’s often easier to argue in your favour if you find a copycat. However, working with patent specialists such as GHB Intellect can help you put the extra bit of protection on your ideas that offer some peace of mind. The better you register and manage your patents, the easier it will be to take legal action against those copying your business.
Go After the Bad Actors
If you have registered your trademarks or your patented techniques, products, and technologies and you see someone else copying them out there, then launching legal action is the best way to go, starting with a cease and desist letter. However, you can also take steps against those looking to undermine the brand by posting fraudulent reviews or false info on your business and the products or services that you offer. Business reputation management tools can be a great help in both finding those bad actors, as well as combatting them by promoting more positive content around the brand.
A good idea is worth protecting and the tips above can help you ensure that you’re looking in the right direction for the shield that you need. The more unique your ideas, the more protection they are likely to need.
