How to Protect Your Intellectual Property
At the recent KORE online Speaker Series, IP lawyer Pablo Tseng discussed how BC business people can utilize government programs to save their ideas from theft.
It’s like something out of a James Bond movie, if Bond were a nerd.
Two months ago Canadian Klaus Pflugbeil was arrested by US Justice Department agents while in New York and charged with stealing proprietary technology from a U.S. electric car manufacturer and using it to set up a rival business overseas. The sting came after months of undercover work in which agents posed as business folk, attended trade shows, and eventually convinced Pflugbeil to email them technical documents he allegedly stole from a former employer. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in American prison.
Although there usually aren’t any high-speed car chases involved, intellectual property (IP) theft is a growing concern; so much so, the Canadian government is throwing a lot of money at programs that help business people protect their ideas.
At a recent KORE online Speaker Series, Vancouver lawyer Pablo Tseng spoke about those programs and how Kootenay-based companies can protect and leverage their innovations. Pablo is a partner at McMillan LLC and an expert in IP law and his hour-long presentation touched on three key points summarized below.
NRC’s IRAP
Run by the National Research Council of Canada, the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) is geared towards helping businesses understand and protect their intellectual properties effectively. It offers structured support on three levels:
- Awareness
- Strategy
- Action
Initially, business people can receive up to three hours of consultation with an expert to enhance their understanding of the IP landscape. The program then helps you develop an IP strategy tailored to your business goals and assists in executing the prioritized IP actions. This progression ensures businesses not only become aware of IP needs but also have a clear pathway to protecting and capitalizing on intellectual property.
ACCELERATE IP
This AccelerateIP initiative is part of the larger ElevateIP program and serves regions including British Columbia and the territories. Its offerings include:
- educational seminars
- strategy development through mentorship and legal support
- implementation assistance including substantial financial aid for legal costs related to IP protection
Regarding this last point, businesses can access up to $25,000 with an approved service provider for legal strategy and up to $60,000 for legal implementation. This makes AccelerateIP a versatile and valuable resource for a wide range of businesses looking to secure and leverage their intellectual property.
FUNDING & COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES
Both IRAP and AccelerateIP are part of a broader $90 million government initiative aimed at enhancing Canada’s IP framework, with a significant portion allocated to Western Canada. These programs offer substantial funding opportunities, potentially up to $90,000 for eligible companies. Additionally, AccelerateIP involves a variety of collaborators from different sectors, such as Innovate BC and the BC Tech Association, which further enriches the support network available for businesses. This collaborative environment, coupled with substantial financial backing, underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a robust IP culture in Canada.
For more about IRAP, visit nrccanada.ca. For more about AccelerateIP, visit accelerateip.ca.
If you have more questions related to the government programs or about intellectual property in general, contact Pablo Tseng via McMillan LLP.
