Where to Get Assistance Get in Touch

Please feel free to get in touch with us anytime for further information or if you have questions regarding our services.

Your IP questions and concerns matter to us and we look forward to assisting you in dealing with them.

European IPR Helpdeskc/o infeurope S.A.62, rue Charles MartelL-2134 Luxembourg

Email service@iprhelpdesk.euPhone +352 25 22 33 - 333 (Helpline)Fax +352 25 22 33 - 334 (Helpline)

Meet the European IPR Helpdesk ambassadors in your country. For further information check our website.

The European IPR Helpdesk is managed by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI), with policy guidance provided by the European Commission’s Enterprise & Industry Directorate-General.

The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.

Photo credits: © istockphoto.com/Angelika Schwarz (Title)© istockphoto.com/RTimages (p.5)© istockphoto.com/sorendls (p.2)© istockphoto.com/kupicoo (p.3)© istockphoto.com/GlobalStock (p.4)

Do you need basic, free of charge advice to help you make informed decisions on your intellectual property?

Here‘s where to go:

European IPR Helpdeskwww.iprhelpdesk.eu

Enterprise Europe Networkeen.ec.europa.eu

China IPR SME Helpdeskwww.china-iprhelpdesk.eu

Asean IPR SME Helpdeskwww.asean-iprhelpdesk.eu

National Intellectual Property Officeswww.innovaccess.eu

The European IPR Helpdesk

Intellectual Property at Brokerage Events

Before the Brokerage Event

At the Brokerage Event

• Keep in mind to only share the information you have previously decided to disclose.

• In case you have scheduled any meetings with po-tential business partners, do not forget to prepare a short presentation. In these initial meetings it is advisable not to share any confidential information at this point, even under a confidential agreement.

• Focus on what are the invention and its benefits, instead of what makes it novel.

• Since brokerage events are often associated with trade fairs or exhibitions, you are likely to meet potential infringers. If this is the case, you should use the event to collect as much evidence as you can (e.g. take photos, collect business cards and brochures). This material could be very useful later in case you need to enforce your rights.

After the Brokerage Event

• In the negotiations for partnership agree-ments following the contacts you have made during the event, it is very important to have in place confidentiality agreements, which establish the conditions under which you will disclose sensitive information in confidence.

• If deciding to start partnerships in a new country, consider intellectual property in the planning.

• Seek protection in the export territory if you have not done it while developing your business plan. Adaptations of your products, packaging or brands should be protected.

• Review the technical profile of your technology, as well as any publication or presentation you intend to take with you to the event to ensure you do not disclose any confidential informati-on.

• Remind your staff of the importance of not dis-cussing sensitive information at the event.

• Since novelty is a requirement for obtaining protection for certain intellectual property rights such as patents, utility models and de-signs, it is important to file the application for registration before any early disclosure.

• Intellectual property rights are territorial and therefore you should consider seeking protec-tion in the country where you are looking to expand your business.

• Mark your written material with copyright noti-ces to make others aware of your rights.