Are you making the most of assets?

For many practitioners in IT the only thing they own is Intellectual Property, the same can be said for many organisations. Even those not directly involved in developing software or other products, will inevitably be creating systems and processes. They may be adapting the software that serves their business, all of which is geared towards providing competitive advantage, thereby creating new, in many cases, protectable intellectual assets.

IPR - basic principles
The basic principles of protecting intellectual property are straightforward enough although, applying them can be very complex. The fundamentals of IPR are, that those who have invested skills, time and effort in creating something - that is considered of use to others - should acquire the rights in that work.

Software is not merely confined to computer programs and their associated design materials but in its broadest interpretation covers any recorded form of digitised information. Alongside computer programs this includes graphics, photographs, sound recordings, video recordings and more recently web hosted.

The IT industry
Within the IT industry the speed of change and the broad range of product development brings with it many new areas within which IPRs can, and should be enforced. There are many inter-dependant issues facing practitioners and IT decision makers in protecting the key assets of their business. Yes, understanding IPR?s can be complicated but there are easy, practical steps IT professionals can take to protect their interests.

The guide will enable you to appreciate and evaluate strategically the assets within your organisation wrapped up as Intellectual Property.

The NCC examines the complex issues of IPR providing clear, practical advice on how to ensure your assets are protected and equally important - that you don?t infringe those of others, coverage includes:

• IPR in the IT industry
• Database Rights
• Design Rights
• Registered Designs
• Trade Marks
• Patents
• Confidentiality & Trade Secrets
• Using & Exploiting IPRs
• IPRs and the Internet
• Dispute Resolution

This Guide forms part of a series of NCC Best Practice Guides and is intended to be of practical use for decision makers in IT, in managing technology, processes and people to deliver effective IT. This guidance is achieved through industry consensus, managed by NCC, across the broadest range of professionals and experts.