It is prudent to take steps to protect your designs. When dealing with many outside parties including investors, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, you should try to mitigate the risk of having your ideas stolen. There are a number of steps you can take to do this.
- Patent your product. Getting a patent will stop most people who would consider trying to run off with your idea. It will also be your best legal tool if you have to take it that far. Patents are also useful when negotiating with investors. The proposition for investing will be more inviting when you can tell investors you already have a patent, reducing legal costs.
- Get an NDA signed. Having a Non-Disclosure Agreement signed will commit the party you’re working with to confidentiality. These agreements can be mutual or one sided. They can last for any amount of years. It is important that the NDA is clear and specific regarding the terms of confidentiality, what can and cannot be shared, and the terms of use of the information.
- Research the companies you do business with. Do they seem like a legitimate corporation? Are there any red flags that you can see? Do they have a professional looking website? How long have they been in business? Are there reviews you can pull up? The more information you can find out about the people you choose to do business with, the better.
It is important to make sure that the companies you give your information to will also work to protect your information with the parties they work with. We make the manufacturers who produce our client’s products sign an exclusive manufacturing agreement where they are bound to protect their intellectual properties.
Image Copyright : Oleksandr Omelchenko