On 14 April partner at Alba LLP Marina Golovnitskaya and senior associate Yauheni Budchanka participated in an event organised by the HTP Accelerator, where they addressed key issues of intellectual property (IP) with startups.
During the presentation, several important topics were covered to help emerging entrepreneurs protect their innovations.
Basics of IP: What Startups Need to Know
It is important for startups to understand what intellectual property is and how to ensure its protection. We discussed the main types of IP, including trademarks and copyright works, as well as key principles of their protection.
Contracts with IP: Key Points
Properly drafting the “right” contracts is essential for successful intellectual property management. We reviewed key points that should be considered in agreements.
Open-Source Licences: Why This Matters
The use of open-source technologies is very popular among startups. We explained why it is important to understand open-source licences and what obligations they impose on developers to avoid negative legal consequences.
Derivative Works: New IP or Infringement?
We discussed how the modification of existing IT products can lead to the creation of new intellectual property and the potential risks of infringing third-party rights.
Commercial Secrecy Regime as a Means of Information Protection
The commercial secrecy regime is one of the most important tools for protecting information and know-how in startups. We explored how startups can utilise this mechanism to safeguard their technologies, and what measures need to be taken to maintain confidentiality.
Works for Hire: The Creation Process
Finally, we examined how to properly secure rights to works for hire. This is particularly relevant for startups where employee work can lead to the creation of new intellectual property.
We thank all participants for their active discussion and interest in intellectual property issues. Understanding these aspects will help startups not only protect their innovations but also effectively grow their businesses.