1. Overview
When you apply for formal intellectual property (IP) protection abroad, you need to know about the following in each destination country:
- IP regulations
- laws
- language(s)
- IP protection procedures
The process for formal IP protection can be complicated, and you should strongly consider getting help from IP professionals, such as local IP agents from the destination countries. In some cases, your Canadian IP agent will work with a local agent to act on your behalf before that country's IP office.
Accessing this kind of IP expertise can be costly. Coming prepared for meetings with these experts can save you time and money. These pages will help you prepare both information and questions to discuss with an IP professional.
Why should I protect my IP in another country?
IP rights are territorial. You need to protect your IP in the markets where you plan to do any of the following with your products:
- discuss
- display
- sell
- manufacture
Also consider protecting your IP in countries where you want to prevent others from doing the following with your products:
- copying
- manufacturing
- importing
Remember that each country has its own set of IP laws and practices. In cases where you choose to apply for IP rights using an international application system, your application, upon reaching the IP office of each target country, will be examined using the target country's local IP laws and practices. Engaging an IP professional familiar with these local IP laws and practices will help you to protect your IP rights.
Resources
- Short video on doing business abroad (Canadian Intellectual Property Office)
- Online course on IP and international trade (World Intellectual Property Organization)
- Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting (Global Affairs Canada)