As a founder or product designer, you pour countless hours into developing your business concept, product, or service innovations. But a brilliant idea is vulnerable if it’s not protected. Without a strong strategy, you leave yourself open to competitors copying you and eating into your market share, stalling your growth before you even get started.

Intellectual Property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets you can create. It’s an essential tool for securing your ideas and building a moat around your business. Join us for this introductory masterclass on Intellectual Property, led by the experts from Marks & Clerk, to learn the fundamentals of building that protective barrier.

This session is designed to answer those fundamental questions: What IP protection is necessary for success? How can I use it to scale and grow my company?

What you’ll learn

This foundational session will demystify the complex world of IP, providing you with the knowledge to create valuable IP assets and an intentional strategy for commercialization. You will learn:

• The IP landscape: Understand fundamental concepts: What is Intellectual Property, and what are the distinct types of IP available to you (Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Designs, and Trade Secrets)?
• Strategy and commercialization: How to use IP to not only protect your innovations and brand but also to actively block competitors, secure your market share, and commercialize your ideas effectively.
• Mastering the tools: A practical breakdown of the different IP forms:
• Patents: What can be patented, the patent process, and key considerations for Patents in the age of AI.
• Trademarks & copyrights: When to use them, and the steps required to register and protect your brand and creative works.
• Trade Secrets: Understanding the difference between a trade secret and a patent, and how all IP forms can be used together.
• Accessing IP funding: Crucial information on how to access government IP Funding programs available in Canada to help offset the costs of securing your assets.
• Building your IP strategy: How to choose the right combination of IP tools for your company to create a robust, intentional IP strategy that supports your scaling goals.

Who should attend

This session is perfect for start-up founders, product designers, and new entrepreneurs who are curious about intellectual property and need to learn the basics. If you are developing a unique name, logo, design, innovative method, new product, or service, this masterclass will provide you with the essential knowledge to protect your innovation and build valuable assets that support your business growth.

Meet the speakers

We are thrilled to welcome the IP experts from Marks & Clerk, a leading intellectual property firm, to guide this session:

• Wilfred – Senior Patent Agent
• Kimberley – Associate, Lawyer and Trademark Agent

They bring deep expertise in both patent and trademark law, offering a comprehensive perspective on securing your ideas and transforming them into commercial success.