Implement a practical and effective intellectual property strategy

Content written by Jules Gaudin and Frédéric Venne, ROBIC, S.E.N.C.R.L.

Following their training session presented to Zone Agtech members last March, lawyer Jules Gaudin and patent agent Frédéric Venne present the 5 key steps to a successful intellectual property strategy for the agtech sector.

In the agricultural technology sector, it is essential to consider the best practices to implement in order to effectively protect and promote your business, your innovations and your technologies. One of these preliminary best practices is to implement a practical and effective intellectual property strategy, adapted to your own reality , so that you can adjust your business model.

With this in mind, here are the steps you can take to implement such a strategy:

1. Carry out a diagnosis of your company, its assets and its knowledge. This first step allows you to take stock of what has already been created, or even protected, but also to verify possible research projects in progress.
2. Implement the necessary actions based on the results of the diagnosis, whether this involves registering certain rights, issuing reminders about renewals to be carried out, or preparing and signing important contracts such as contracts for the transfer of rights that have never been signed!
3. Adapt its business model to this strategy and its context, in particular by ensuring that existing commercial contracts effectively protect its assets, or that products and services properly display its trademarks.
4. Monitor the competition and adapt regularly. When it comes to intellectual property or commercial matters, it's important to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing, so you can react and adapt effectively (e.g. preventive filing, opposition to registration applications, etc.).
5. Revisit this strategy periodically. This intellectual property strategy should not be static, but rather a living, flexible part of your overall strategy, enabling you to reap the full benefits over the long term!

For further information or questions, please contact Frédéric Venne for your patent needs, and Jules Gaudin for your contractual, regulatory or legal needs!

© CIPS, 2022.

^*JulesGaudin is a lawyer and Frédéric Venne is a patent agent, working at ROBIC, S.E.N.C.R.L., a multidisciplinary firm of lawyers and patent and trademark agents.