The UK Patent Office is due to hold a free ÂWhat is the Key? event for businesses operating in Kent on 8 November 2005. The event is aimed at creating awareness amongst the local entrepreneurs about the importance of intellectual property and its value to their business. According to the Patent Office press release ÂDelegates will learn how management of intellectual property (IP) is crucial to growing enterprisesÂ.
The event is a follow on from the Patent Office research which identified that over one third business owners did not fully understand the importance of IP to their business and the one fourth of business owners who recognised, how indispensable IP is to the growth of their business, did not know how to manage and enforce their intellectual property rights.
ÂÂThe seminar is run in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA) and Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (INTA) for the ÂWhat is the Key? campaign and is being supported by Business Link Kent. Entrepreneurs will learn the latest about patents, trademarks, copyright and design registrations and how they can build their businessÂÂ.
According to Director of Trade Marks and Designs at the Patent Office Robin Webb, “Business owners and directors should always remember that all businesses, no matter what their trade is, have intellectual property. When it is managed well, it adds value to a business but if it is neglected it can create problems. Good intellectual property management makes your business an attractive proposition to investors.”
Business Link Kent, ITC Adviser, Keith Casson said, “In a knowledge-based economy like the UK, effective use of intellectual property can literally be the key to unlock a company’s potential. At Business Link Kent we’ve had the pleasure of helping a large number of companies with their IP issues and so we’re delighted that the UK Patent Office is running this event locally,”
The venue for the event is The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells.