Intellectual property, business tool for small and medium-sized companies

Abstract

The guide summarizes the intellectual property system and the possibilities and needs for the protection of intellectual property in the textile and clothing industry. The guide discusses intellectual property rights that are acquired without the need for registration; eg copyright, trade secret, as well as rights acquired through intellectual property registration procedures in the form of: patent, utility model, design, and trademark and service mark. The fact that registered intellectual property rights are exclusively territorial in nature and depend on local legislation and local judicial practice was emphasized. The basic outlines of the strategic decision-making process when choosing the most suitable form of protection are presented, the reasons that "force" the participants in the market competition to protect and the mentioned way of generating profit from the protection itself are mentioned. The guide explains the basic principles of effective intellectual property portfolio management. Considering the specifics of the textile and clothing industry, the authors warn about the issue of exhibiting at trade fairs, which is related to the risks of copying, bearing in mind today's technological possibilities and the interaction of all market participants. Special attention is paid to the association of rights holders using a collective trademark and to the promotion of protection against unfair competition.