C C C C TM C PROTECT YOUR IDEAS TM If you don't guard your intellectual property, you may find that someone else makes money from it instead I ntellectual property (IP) is something you create using your mind: a story, artistic work or invention, for example. Why does this matter to you as a small business owner? Because even though these things are intangible, they can be stolen. However, the law says that they belong to you or your company, and you can protect them from theft. Your company's IP covers everything from your business name to patents, databases and trade marks. For instance, no one else can use your company's logo or trading name C 134