How to Protect Your Idea

An idea is any thought that goes into an individual’s head. Only when an idea fulfills the condition of innovation and when that idea begins to develop, materialize and materialize in some way, can intellectual property be discussed. However, this does not mean that you can protect the idea in the narrow sense of the word, but only the concrete realization of the idea, subject to certain conditions. Whether you are a creative individual, a developing company or a multinational company, it is important that you protect your ideas, and we will further explain why.

What is intellectual property?

The term intellectual property is widely used. If we were to translate into a language other than legal, intellectual property is any product in the broad sense of the word that arose from some creative idea. This term includes both copyright and related rights, patents, trademarks, designs, models, as rights protected as such through the regulations of the Republic of Serbia and international regulations, and let’s say “know-how” as a set of operational, explicit or covert information. which is not subject to classical protection and registration but does not mean that it cannot otherwise be protected.

So, when you come up with a great new idea that you could materially convey to paper, shape it into a program, product or any other material form, express it through a written, spoken, visual, film or dramatic work, you should ensure that someone else does not use your creativity.

How to protect intellectual property?

With the development of technology and the rise of social networks, there is an increased and accelerated flow of information, making it increasingly difficult to secure intellectual property protection. To protect your intellectual property, you need to follow a few guidelines:

1. Don’t tell anyone your idea

Before you formally protect your intellectual property, the recommendation is not to tell anyone about your idea, and certainly do not share it or share it on various social networks, forums or the like. Someone may overtake you and use your idea before you. If you are already forced to discuss this topic with someone else, a further recommendation is to sign a confidentiality agreement with the persons to whom you present your idea.

2. Realize your idea

When you come up with something that could be realized and that could be subject to protection, immediately put it on a piece of paper and write down a date so that the development of your idea can be monitored and that tomorrow you cannot tell you “I I thought of it first. ” Then, depending on the idea itself, materialize such your idea through sketches, plans, drawings, descriptions, a specific product, some artwork, and through some other form.

3. Register the final product of your idea

When you have expressed your idea as outlined above, contact an attorney from the list of agents who maintains the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Serbia or who deals with intellectual property (you can also us) to verify that there is possibly no similar protected right. advised you on further steps to protect your intellectual property, checked the adequacy of documentation for the formal protection of your intellectual property, and possibly represented you in the proceedings before the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Serbia.

Why is intellectual property protection important?

Protecting intellectual property rights fosters human creativity, pushes the boundaries of science, technology, the arts and enriches our world by allowing us to enjoy the pursuits of one’s creativity and innovation.

From the point of view of the innovator and the creator, you deserve to enjoy the fruits of your work. Although the intellectual property protection process itself can be hard both time and financially, in the end it always pays off. In addition to the moral satisfaction that you have come up with something new and that no one else can steal your idea, protected intellectual property has commercial value and becomes an object of commerce that you can dispose of.