Preparing for intellectual property advice
Intellectual property advice can come in many different forms. When seeking intellectual property advice, there are a few things you can do before going straight to a specialist legal firm.
Contact any of the following for initial information and advice:
- your accountant
- your lawyer
- business mentors
- Regional Business Partner Network – this network pairs businesses with local advisors to identify their development needs, as well as co-funding business training
- industry or sector bodies like the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA)
- business incubators like Upstart, CreativeHQ and the Angel Association
- banks’ investment advisors.
Choosing an advisor
Always think about how to get value for your money.
When looking for an advisor:
- make sure you can explain your business goals
- have a budget ready, but keep an open mind
- shop around for advice
- ask different intellectual property specialists if they offer free initial consultations
- ask if they can send you a customer pack
- ask if they work on a billable hour or flat fee basis.
Help from IPONZ
The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) service centre can only offer advice around registering your intellectual property. It can’t help you with strategic advice or intellectual property strategies.
Before your first intellectual property meeting
Before meeting with an intellectual property advisor for the first time, make sure you can clearly explain:
- what your core business is
- your short- and long-term goals
- your intellectual property budget
- who your main competitor is or will be, in the market you want to operate in
- who your potential business partners are.
Before any meeting, ask your advisor what they might want you to bring.
Use Stats NZ to learn more about who your main competitor is.
Use ONECheck to see if the business name you want to use is available, or if someone else has already registered it.
Advisor turns backer
A Kiwi designer created an innovative baggage system and, recognising it’s IP value, sought expert guidance. An advisor invested in the idea, attracting $1.2 million in additional funding and $50,000 worth of free IP support. With patents secured, the technology is now licensed in Europe, expanding into America, and continuing to find new markets.
Learn more about