OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014 - (Page 24)

ENGINEERING INTELLIGENCE ED TECT PRO Part 2 of a two-part series 8 BEST PRACTICES FOR INTELLECTUAL ASSET MANAGEMENT By Dave Tyrrell, P.Eng, & Gary Floyd, PhD Intellectual assets (IA) can represent a business's most valuable assets. In the last issue of The Voice, a list of eight best practices for intellectual asset management was introduced, and the first four were discussed in detail. In this edition, the remaining four best practices are covered, along with recommendations for implementing effective intellectual asset management programs. EIGHT EASY-TO-IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES FOR INTELLECTUAL ASSET MANAGEMENT 1. Identify and catalogue your intellectual assets. 2. Develop trade secret and patent strategies and IA management plans. 3. Understand the consequences of intellectual asset ownership arising from employment and consulting agreements. 4. Establish an invention award policy. 5. Utilize non-disclosure agreements. 6. Establish proprietary information protection procedures. 7. Strategically license-out your technology and license-in technology from others. 8. Enforce your patent and trademark rights and copyrights. 5. UTILIZE NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are often needed when confidential information is discussed with others, such as potential technology development parties, licensees, strategic partners, suppliers and customers. The purpose of these agreements is to protect future patenting opportunities and to limit the use of the confidential information. While these agreements may only be as good as the integrity and diligence of the parties involved, and enforcement can be challenging, it is important to be aware of situations for which NDAs are needed. For this best practice: * Obtain legal guidance when the need for an NDA is identified. * Limit the signing authority for NDAs (generally the president or a senior executive). * Ensure any employees involved with confidential information are aware of your company's non-disclosure obligations. * When disclosing confidential information to clients, suppliers or partners, remind all parties involved of their non-disclosure obligations. 2 4 TheVoice Spring 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014

OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014
Contents
Viewpoint
OSPE is Listening
Newsbytes
Profile: Robert A. Goodings, P.Eng.
National Engineering Month
Engineers Connect at OSPE Events
Advocacy for Our Profession
Issues that Matter
Decades of Advocacy
From Classroom to Career
Talking Transit
PAN Profile
Strength in Numbers
Learning from Elliot Lake
Energy Planning
Across the Pond and Back
Intellectual Property
OSPE Employer Compensation Survey
Deadlier than Drunk Drivers?
Resources within Reach
Professional Development
OSPE Launches Corporate Program

OSPE - The Voice - Spring 2014