What are some of the common reasons why business owners don't move forward to protect their intellectual property?

If you've ever developed a new product or formulated a new business idea, you've most likely grappled with the question of whether you should to protect it legally in some way.  It can be a confusing issue, for sure, and many of the small business owners and entrepreneurs I meet don't seem to have a solid grasp of how, why and when to protect their products, or if it's even necessary.

There are a many reasons people hesitate to make intellectual property protection a priority when they are just starting a new business. They include:

1. It is another startup cost, one which is sometimes viewed as “non-essential,” simply because it is not legally required to operate the business.

2. They are unsure whether the business or product will “take off,” so they think they might not even need it.

3. They don’t anticipate anyone attempting to copy them.

4. They do not know what types of protections may be available for their products or brands.

5. They seek to keep costs down by utilizing free or inexpensive online resources.

Protecting intellectual property correctly is not simple, and many times the examining attorneys at the government agencies have questions or raise unexpected issues on the applications. That is why professional help is so important. It can be costly or limiting in the long run to skip these steps.