On Wednesday, 1st August 2018, I engaged the current cohort of Africa Internship Academy for two productive hours following an invitation by the team leaders to educate the class on Intellectual Property, protecting and monetizing Creativity.
The hours spent with the class, I would gladly say, was rather exciting and a good one to start my day with. Seated in the class were 24 young, creative thinkers who are ever ready to vacate the fearful zone of thinking inventions and innovations are high-risk investment and do not obtain financial support easily.
We started by familiarizing ourselves with inventions that are protectable under Intellectual property rights such as creative arts/designs, publications, technologies, etc. Using a drinking water bottle for illustration, we also differentiated between patent, copyright, trademark, and industrial design rights. Each student was able to decide which license he/she would go for if he/she was the manufacturer of the water bottle.
Some of the students said they will go for Patent right as this right protects an idea of an investor which acts as a solution to a problem. And since the water bottle in question is designed with a straw to enable user drink content without spilling, it acts as a solution to a problem.
Others said they will go for an Industrial design right to enable them protect the aesthetic value (unique design or appearance) of the bottle as well as the Patent right. Having the two, they said, will prevent competitors from manufacturing drinking bottles with straws or with same designs.
Also, we were able to differentiate between trademark and copyright, as trademarks and copyrights protect brands and publications respectively.
Frankly, our short exercise for determining which right is required for which product, really overwhelmed me. Within some few minutes, my intelligent students were able to tell which right must be sought for which product, and with tangible reasons. Wow! I was very impressed knowing the days of “stealing” another’s work has definitely come to an end.
Society and Intellectual Property
Although society shuns monopoly, Intellectual Property gives monopoly. Intellectual Property right is a negative right since the right prevents others (competitors) from using your creative works in the market.
Placing value on your work
After creation, there is more to do than assuming you have come to the end of the work. What then is required? I always advise; after creation, sit down, evaluate, and value what has been created. Thus, before you think of monetizing your works; Protect yourself by protecting your work.
Protection can be national, regional or international because it is territorial. For instance, somebody can take your creative idea in Ghana and file for protection in another territory, country, etc. This, however, must not be an excuse for not protecting your work in at least your territory.
One student expressed dislike at how ideas of the youth are sometimes ‘stolen’ and protected by the ‘gurus’ who have advantages over young creators, and asked if such people can be sued or brought to book in any way. My response to this question: since this ‘intellectual thief’ was the first to protect this work, he is rather the legitimate owner of work or idea. So, the bottom line, be the first to protect your ideas or works at all cost to prevent other people from doing so.
Monetization of Creativity
In order to make money, develop a quality, protectable innovative technology. After creation, always remember to use patent databases for prior art searches to enable you obtain information on developments in your field of interest. Then, you can discover what competitors consider worth protecting. With this, you can make an informed patenting decisions as you obtain freedom to use information.
I couldn’t have ended the morning’s session without sharing a quote from Peter Vanderheyden. It says, “Irrespective of where you are in the monetization process, whether you are looking to start, or you have been in the game for years, you need to evaluate how you’re judging the quality of your intellectual property. Every step and every strategy related to monetization hinges on your detailed understanding of IP as it applied to both the market place and existing standards”.
I left the session feeling fulfilled as a group of young talents have been exposed to Intellectual property and would no longer leave in ignorance. Every journey begins with a step, and as that step has been made, I believe gradually the entire world will come to the knowledge of intellectual property and will not fall victims to having their works claimed by others who just lie in wait to exploit works of others.
Your intellectual property must be protected as you would any other property acquired or inherited. Do you value your ideas enough to protect them? Share your thoughts and experiences with IP.