Over 70% of British businesses risk losing their intellectual
property rights when they sign deals with other businesses, because
they do not clarify ownership details in the contract, according to
a new survey from the UK Patent Office.
The research found that 40% of businesses think that they
automatically own the copyright if they ask a sub-contractor to
develop software for their business while an additional 30% of
businesses do not know who owns it.
In fact, the ownership of the copyright actually rests with the
sub-contractor unless the commissioning business clearly states in
a written contract before work is carried out that ownership is
theirs.
"All businesses need to be aware of how to handle intellectual
property because they all own some and should value it,” said
Lawrence Smith-Higgins, Head of Marketing at the Patent Office.
“When you sell a business or have it valued, it is often assets
such as trade marks, copyright, patents and design registrations
which command a great deal of the value. You can not afford to let
these assets slip through your fingers from lack of knowledge."
The Patent Office, the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents and
the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys are running a campaign to
increase awareness of intellectual property rights, and how
businesses can benefit from it.
