Natalie Giroux, Business Lead for Innovation Strategy Practice at Stratford, was featured as a guest writer for the Globe and Mail article titled: ‘Companies need intellectual property strategies which always keep the end-goal in mind'.
In her article, Natalie talks about how companies should understand and approach their IP. She mentions that IP is much more that filing a patent, and should never be a piece-meal, after-the-fact reactive process. In her words, "An IP strategy is only useful if the company implements a culture of continuous innovation and fosters a climate that rewards the disclosure of ideas."
“The IP strategy should evolve along with the company’s business plan and overall strategy. Formal IP registration (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, plant breeders’ rights, copyright) should be considered the same as products and an IP life cycle management process should be applied to these assets. Regular review of the assets in light of the company’s strategic plan is key to avoiding spending money on assets that could be monetized.”
Read Natalie’s complete article for The Globe and Mail online here.