Great idea! Now what?

Do you actually own the intellectual property rights to the idea?

Let’s suppose your invention, design or idea turn outs to be the answer to an economic or social need. Are you allowed to market it? At Mercator Launch we offer a range of IP support services to help you safeguard your ideas and inventions. Curious about these services? Read all about them below.

IP strategy development

Our team of experts can help you develop a comprehensive IP strategy tailored to your specific needs and goals. We can assist you in identifying your IP assets, evaluating their potential value, and developing a plan to protect and manage them.

Patent searching and filing

We have a large network of experts that can help you conduct patent searches and file patent applications to protect your inventions. If you’re an employee or student of Radboud, we’ll connect you to the so-called Knowledge Transfer Offices with experts dedicated to IP protection and transfer. They’ll guide you through the complex patent application process and help you navigate the legal requirements.

Trademark and copyright registration

Our team can assist you in registering your trademarks and copyrights to protect your brand identity and creative works.

Determining IP ownership

The rules about ownership of ideas coming from university or university medical centre employees are clear. By law, by contract, and by collective labour agreement, all IP generated by employees is owned by the university or university medical centre. However, if the invention was created as part of a collaboration or grant, specific ownership clauses might be in place.

Students regularly come up with inventions as part of an internship, thesis or project. For students, IP can (depending on the situation and the subject) be owned by the student, the educational institute or, if applicable, an assigner like a company or institute that commissioned the work. Moreover, collaborating with peer students and/ or companies will result in shared IP. In conclusion, for students, IP ownership is much more complicated. To clarify the rules for students all universities in The Netherlands adopted the “IPR guideline for students”. Here are the most important tips for students: check your IP position before you start your internship or research project (what is laid down in your contract?), read the IPR guideline for students for specific and practical IPR information, make clear agreements and record them in writing, and use the UNL internship agreement (NL/ ENG).

Mercator Launch has business coaches with IP expertise and a large network of IP professionals. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your startup’s IP needs.