Protecting Your Intellectual Property When an Employee Moves On

According to a study performed by the Symantec Corporation, employees don’t seem concerned about stealing from one employer and bringing that competitive advantage to the next. In fact, half of the employees surveyed who lost their jobs in the past year admitted to keeping confidential information on the company they left, and 40% of those individuals said they intended to use it at their next job. How can you protect yourself from intellectual property theft when an employee is terminated or leaves for another job?

  • Employment Agreements – Be sure to sign an agreement with each person who works for your company. The agreement should outline the consequences of violating confidentiality or using the company’s IP. It should also outline what is included as the company’s IP. Train employees to respect these guidelines rather than having to rely on taking legal action later.
  • Trademarks, Copyrights, and Patents – Even though you may legally own your creative works, go the extra mile to have everything officially trademarked, copyrighted, or patented. This will give you better legal footing should an employee ignore the agreement and try to use your own intellectual property against you.

Intellectual Property Support for Small Business Owners

From drafting employment agreements to assisting business owners to file the right intellectual property paperwork, Pokala Law APC APC is proud to help small business owners in the San Diego area to protect themselves against employee theft that can destroy a brand’s competitive advantage. To learn more, contact us today at 1-844-695-1487, or you can request an appointment online.

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