IP Protection Basics Check

Why this matters

Intellectual property — your business name, logo, product designs, written content, software, and any inventions — is often a small business’s most valuable asset, yet it’s frequently left unprotected. Trade marks aren’t automatically protected just by using a name; without registration at the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), you may have only limited “passing off” rights, which are harder and more expensive to enforce. Meanwhile, copyright in content and code generally exists automatically, but ownership can be unclear if it was created by contractors or freelancers without a written assignment.

The risks cut both ways: failing to protect your own IP means competitors can copy your brand or products with limited recourse, while failing to check that your own branding, content or products don’t infringe someone else’s IP can result in costly disputes, forced rebrands, or claims for damages. For a small business, a modest investment in registering key trade marks and getting IP assignment clauses into freelancer and contractor agreements can prevent expensive problems later.

What you'll need

• Your business name, logo and any product/brand names
• Details of any contractors or freelancers who've created content, designs, code or branding for you
• Whether you've searched for existing trade marks similar to your brand

What you'll get

A personalised compliance report covering: a score out of 100, an executive summary, a list of findings ranked by severity, and a prioritised action plan with timeframes.