Just like other businesses, veterinary practices must take steps to ensure that their trademarks and intellectual property are protected. Unfortunately, however, many veterinary practice owners overlook this key issue. Failing to protect your intellectual property as a veterinary practice owner can place you at a major disadvantage in the marketplace. Therefore, it’s imperative that you work with an experienced veterinary practice attorney to protect your property. In this article, we discuss how to protect your intellectual property as a veterinary practice owner.
What is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual property is any work or product that is a result of a person’s original thought. As a business owner, it’s important to take steps to protect your intellectual property to keep other businesses from using it. Examples of intellectual property include:
- Business names
- Website content
- Inventions
- Artwork
- Designs
- Manuscripts
- Articles
- Product names
Steps to Protecting Your Intellectual Property
As a veterinary practice owner, you should take steps to protect your business’s intellectual property. By following the steps below, you lower the odds of having to deal with the theft of your intellectual property.
(1) Keep Your Trade Secrets and Business Ideas a Secret
Until you have taken the legal steps necessary to protect your intellectual property, you should avoid discussing it with others or publicly disclosing it. Any time you discuss confidential information about your business with others, you risk it being stolen. And if you are working with business partners, you should seek the assistance of an attorney to help you draft non-disclosure agreements.
(2) Document Your Original Content and Ideas
Any time you come up with original ideas and content related to your practice, you should document them. Plans, records, descriptions, and detailed drawings are examples of the types of documentation that can help protect your intellectual property. Such proof can be helpful if someone challenges you as the owner of your copyrights and trademarks.
(3) Apply for a Trademark
Once you’ve chosen a name and logo for your veterinary practice, you should register them immediately. A memorable trademark that is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office will give you a significant advantage over your competitors.
(4) Register Your Intellectual Property, Creative Works, and Trade Secrets
Finally, in addition to your trademarks, you should work with an experienced veterinary attorney to register the remainder of your assets. When doing so, you should write down all the details of your intellectual property in order to register and distinguish it from similar existing ideas.
Contact Our Experienced Nationwide Veterinary Lawyers
As a veterinary practice owner, it’s important to protect your intellectual property. For assistance with protecting your veterinary practice’s intellectual property, you should contact an experienced veterinary lawyer. At Mahan Law, our experienced and knowledgeable veterinary professionals are here to help you take the legal steps necessary to ensure that your intellectual property remains protected. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation with a talented veterinary attorney.