IP awareness resources (revised 12 Jun 2008)

IPAN reviewed resources

• IP in general

• copyright

• designs

• educational

• enforcement of IP rights - includes new powers of Trading Standards

• patents

• trademarks and domain names

help for inventors

• my ip - ip explained - starter guide for SMEs (3MB download)
  excellent readable pamphlet from the UK IPO on IP essentials

• information for US inventors US
  inventors resource website from the US Patent & Trademark Office - explaining the basics of the US system for patents and trade marks

• inventing the future - patents for SMEs
  useful introductory booklet for SMEs by WIPO

• patents: essential reading
  helpful information from the UK IPO - is patenting the correct approach for your invention? - also outlines the process in the UK and abroad

• my idea: is it a business? (3MB download)
  another clear pamphlet from the UK IPO giving basic information

• WIPO SME guides
  range of useful booklets for SMEs on commercial IP applications

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• intellectual property guide
  BBRSC general publication

• bioscience exploitation Guide
  useful BBSRC booklet  for academics

• Theros IP guidelines for  higher education centres - (Murgitroyd & Co and Thorntons WS)
  practical and user-friendly introduction by IP specialists with extensive experience in this area—useful for academic and research staff, technology transfer specialists and commercialisation managers
   

• Theros IP guidelines for the NHS - (Murgitroyd & Co and Thorntons WS)
  similar to the general Theros IP guide-lines above but tailored to the needs of researchers and business development managers working in the UK National Health Service
   

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• a CEO's guide to IP - (Computer Patent Annuities Ltd)
  basic guidance about IP strategy with input from IP expert Jeremy Phillips

• commercialisation best practice guidance
  useful advice on IP commericalisation on the Partnerships UK Website

• document archiving - why?
  a personal view from John Grant - an experienced UK IP practitioner

• intellectual asset management
  general information for small businesses  from the Intellectual Asset Centre sponsored by the Scottish Executive

• mediation - an alternative to legal proceedings?
  the UK IP Office now provides a mediation service to help companies and individuals involved in IP disputes as a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution

general information

useful links to other internet resources of useful IP awareness materials:

• UK IP Office
  website recently rebuilt and easy to use and replaces the IP portal provided by the UK DTI

• IPR-Helpdesk
  aimed primarily at contractors in EU funded R&D programmes, the site contains much useful IP awareness information

• WIPO - SMEs
  this Division provides many useful information sources tailored to the needs of small businesses and start-up companies

• IP Australia
  well structured website with useful basic information about IP and an excellent set of materials for journalists in the IP Media Centre

• Swiss IP Institute (IGE)
  well structured website with clear basic and supplementary information about IP

get professional advice

• UK based, specialist professional IP advisers

search for patents

• UK - via Espacenet
   
• European - via Espacenet
   
• US - via US Patent & Trademark Office
   
• US - via Google

newsletters

• IP Insight is a free, monthly newsletter from the UK IPO which offers information and advice about all aspects of intellectual property.
   
• IPR-Helpdesk produces a monthly bulletin of general articles on IP matters