Companies Looking for Solutions to Protect Intellectual Property: Consulting and Compensation

   "This year, 964 companies - 14% more than last year - applied for funding to protect their intellectual property. The State Patent Office (VPB), which also started providing free expert consultations, notices that businesses understand the importance of protecting intellectual property, but do not necessarily know how to do it. 

 

     Since September, VPB has started providing a new free consultation service for business companies, scientific institutions and the public. Consultations on intellectual property issues are provided by VPB specialists, as well as patent attorneys and lawyers. 30 minutes duration consultations take place remotely, on the Microsoft Teams platform.

 

     According to VŽ, VPB provided 16 free consultations in September-October. Until now, businesses could consult with VPB and experts from other institutions on matters of intellectual property protection. in 2022 more than 3,300 such consultations were provided, this year until September – 3,110.

 

     According to Irina Urbonė, director of VPB, creators of intellectual property have general knowledge, but they lack information about solutions necessary when faced with very specific aspects of intellectual property protection.

 

     "For this reason, a team of professionals was assembled who know the intricacies of the protection of designs, trademarks, inventions or the peculiarities of the public sector, can advise on the protection of intellectual property objects, follow global market trends and provide such consultations free of charge," I. Urbonė is quoted as saying in the report.

 

     In consultations, experts are usually asked how to properly protect a trademark, design or invention before starting commercial activities abroad, what to do after receiving a claim regarding the used trademark, what steps to take if the rights to existing intellectual property have been violated. Also, what must be done before registering a trademark, design or patenting an invention.

 

     Encouraging support

 

     Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also more actively looking for opportunities to protect the intellectual property they have created - to register trademarks, designs or patents and recover part of the incurred costs.

 

     "Businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to protect their intellectual property are encouraged by EU support, where SMEs can recover up to 75% of the costs of registering and patenting intellectual property, as well as by growing business awareness and understanding that properly protected intellectual property provides not only assurance, that competitors will not appropriate it, but also the fact that it can bring additional income to the company by employing intellectual property on the basis of licenses or franchises", - points out to VŽ Aistė Blaževičienė, representative of the SME project at VPB.

 

     The EU Intellectual Property Office (ESINT) together with the European Commission is implementing the "Small and Medium Enterprises Fund Project". Under it, a business can receive compensation and recover part of the costs incurred in registering intellectual property objects.

 

     As indicated by VŽ VPB, the project support is provided under 4 checks: check 1 – intellectual property identification service (“IP Scan” [1]), check 2 – trademarks and designs, check 3 – patents, check 4 – electronic registration of Community plant varieties applications are submitted in this way.

     VPB information.

 

     Lithuanian SMEs this year from January 23 until October 27 submitted 361 applications for check 1 - "IP Scan" service and 950 applications for check 2 - trademarks and designs, when up to EUR 1,000 is compensated for incurred expenses.

 

     "Compared to the same period last year, we want to celebrate the activity of Lithuanian SMEs: 964 companies have submitted applications to receive checks. According to this indicator, there are 14% more companies than last year - 832 SMEs", VŽ indicates to VPB."

 

 

1. What is IP Scan

 

"Identify your intellectual property (IP) and learn how to incorporate an IP strategy into your company’s business plans.

Protecting your IP is the only legal way to avoid having your unique ideas, products, or services copied or used without permission.

An IP Scan puts you directly in contact with an IP expert designated by your national IP office. They will work with you to review your business model, products/services, and growth plans.

Together, you'll figure out what intangible assets to protect and in what way your IP can help your business grow. IP Scan isn’t a legal service. It is meant to guide you on how to register and capitalise your IP, now and in the future.”