Intellectual property forms the heart of any organization's competitive edge.
Companies seeking to leverage and safeguard the full value of these precious assets are developing and implementing strategic IP protection plans. Such plans enable you to form a web that, when woven tightly, can provide the only legal barrier to competition. And these plans need to be made before an employee divulges your trade secrets, an e-commerce venture publishes your work without permission, a competitor copies your product, or an overseas entity knocks off your patented technology. These plans should include, to the fullest extent possible, use of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret protections and must take into account antitrust and international trade implications . While the importance of IP protection is widely recognized by telecommunications, e-commerce , technology , pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies, it is equally important to trade associations , manufacturing companies and service businesses.