The platform should inform the more than 3 million SMEs in the Netherlands and Belgium about the importance and added value of intellectual property. European research has shown that over 90% of the entrepreneurs do not have any registered intellectual property rights.
SMEs that do have a registration for trademarks, designs and patents have on average up to 68% more turnover per employee. This was the striking result of research conducted by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) among 127,000 European companies last year. Still, only 5% of the Dutch SMEs has registered one or more intellectual property rights. It is about protecting with trademark and design registrations and with patents.
Smart Guides
The Netherlands Patent Office and the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) have developed the new platform together with the Innovation and Enterprise Agency (VLAIO), Sowalfin, and the FPS Economy. Create, Protect & Benefit must make companies aware of the benefits, but also of the risks involved in not protecting ideas, products and services. This is done with 12 so-called smart guides. They answer the most common questions of entrepreneurs. For example: how do you make sure that no one can copy your product? Why should you also protect the appearance of your product? Or how do you prove that you were the first one with a certain idea?
In order to inspire other entrepreneurs, the platform collected testimonials from some CEOs of Dutch, Flemish and Wallonian companies. They explain what intellectual property rights they have and what specific added value they bring. Entrepreneurs also find direct links on the platform to experts who can help them further.
Image: Jirsak/Shutterstock
