Intellectual theft is a serious crime. Unfortunately, it’s a crime that’s committed on an almost daily basis. Due to the size of the internet, it can be very hard for people to find out whether or not their intellectual property is being stolen. Many people take people’s intellectual property, rewrite it a bit so that it doesn’t show up on plagiarism checkers, and then use it themselves, making the stolen content almost undetectable.
This post will tell you everything that you need to know about avoiding becoming a victim of intellectual theft.
Trademarking IP
If you have intellectual property that you want to protect, then you should consider trademarking it. According to the experts from CamutiLaw.com, an alternative to trademarking is copyrighting, which is equally as effective. Trademarks are used to protect things like your brand’s logo or slogan, whereas copyrighting protects things like the copying, reproduction, and distribution of specific things that you have created. In order to file a trademark or copyright application, you need to find a lawyer that specializes in IP law.
Make sure that the lawyer that you work with is experienced, qualified, and knowledgeable. A very good way of determining whether or not a lawyer has these characteristics is to read their reviews. If they are all consistently good, then it is a strong indicator that the firm has a commitment to quality. You can also read the testimonials published on the law firm’s own website.
Updating Firewall
On any device that holds sensitive data or intellectual property, there needs to be an active firewall. Unfortunately, many businesses don’t think about their firewalls very often. Your computer’s firewall is its frontline. If your firewall isn’t working, updated, or active, then cybercriminals will be able to hack your device with ease. With this in mind, make sure that you regularly update your firewall and check that it’s working. It’s also important to conduct viral scans once or twice a week, to check each of your devices for them.
Encrypting Data
Whenever you are saving or storing data, make sure that you encrypt it. Encrypting data makes it extremely difficult for cybercriminals to get into it. It’s especially important to encrypt data if you are sending it to other people by email. One highly effective way of encrypting everything that you transmit is to download and use a VPN, or a ‘virtual private network.’ VPNs are pieces of software that allow you to hide your identity and IP address from anybody that’s tracking or watching you. You can use specialized software to encrypt actual files though since a VPN can’t do this for you.
Data Protection
The type of software that’s used to encrypt files is called data protection software. This type of software is highly effective and can help you to ensure that your business’s sensitive data and information don’t fall into the wrong hands. A lot of businesses overlook data protection software, which is a big mistake. If you do not have it, then you are essentially just inviting cybercriminals and thieves to hack your business’s devices and steal your IP. Make sure that you thoroughly research this kind of software before buying any, so you can be sure that the one you’re getting is high-quality.
Complex Passwords
On your business’s devices, make sure that you set up complex passwords. A staggeringly large number of data breaches occur from within companies. You can’t always trust your employees. Sometimes, they have bad intentions. Setting up complex passwords on your devices will make it less easy for any untrustworthy employees to be able to steal your data or IP. With that said, you will have to give some employees access to such information. Make sure that these employees are thoroughly vetted and known to you. Do not give sensitive data to people who you know nothing about.
Data Archiving
Lastly, make sure that you archive old data properly. A lot of business owners fail when it comes to data archiving. Many of them just store old data in an easily accessible folder on their device’s desktop. You need to download and invest in proper data archiving software. Investing in such software gives you somewhere to store your data that’s reliable and trustworthy. As with all other types of software, be sure to do your research and find the archiving software that’s best and has the most high-quality features. Never give low-level employees access to your data archives, for reasons already mentioned.
Intellectual property theft is easily avoided. All that you have to do is to follow this post’s guidance. If it’s something that you are concerned about, then download the software mentioned here, and take out a trademark or copyright so you have legal support.