Business Startup Guide

Why Should I Protect My Ideas?

Protecting your ideas can help you to create profit, protect and grow your brand, build partnerships and manage competition. Get inspiration by learning how other businesses have successfully turned their intellectual creations into profitable avenues for themselves.

How Do I Know Who Owns The IP Created?

In general, Singapore law says creators own the IP unless there are legislative provisions or contractual agreements stating otherwise. There are some exceptions to the rule, for instance, employee inventions, commissioned works by contractors or outsourced parties and collaborative joint ownership arrangements with partners.

Where Do I Start?

• Check IP Databases
  Before you proceed to spend time and money to develop your new product or service, you might want to find out if your ideas or creations are truly unique by checking IP databases to see if anything similar has already been protected.
  
  
• Use the IPOS IP Starter Kit
  Refer to this useful list of questions from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) to start you on the process of learning how to manage your IP.

What Are The Different Types of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)?

Intellectual creations can be protected by registering with IPOS. These include:

• patent for inventions

• trade marks for business signs

• industrial designs for designs applied to articles

• grants for the protection of plant varieties

Other intellectual creations can be protected without having to be registered. These include:

• copyrighted works

• geographical indications

• layout-designs of integrated circuits

• confidential information and trade secrets

Where Can I Go To Get More Help On Intellectual Property?

There are a few avenues available. You can approach experts like IP lawyers, attend talks and seminars conducted by IPOS and the IP Academy, and use online tools and databases. You should also approach IPOS.

For more information on intellectual property laws, managing and enforcing your IP right, please refer to the Protecting Your Ideas Section.