Copyright eBook: Conclusion

How to protect your business

All businesses should ensure they set aside a budget for legal advice.  Using Azrights On Call it is very cost effective to get some templates prepared for you to use in various situations.  This service combined with affordable access to expert lawyers for ad hoc advice is all you need to guard against the many mistakes that businesses routinely make about their IP protection generally. 

In general, I believe that standard legal documents (precedents) which enable businesses to DIY on legal matters, are not an ideal solution. Often it can actually be a false economy as legal documents are lengthy, complex and designed to cover a variety of circumstances.  Customising a precedent is actually a difficult and time consuming process. 

If you know what you are doing (e.g. because you have a background in law), and the document has detailed explanatory guidance, then buying documents might be an acceptable solution for some businesses. But even then, this is only feasible for straight forward matters.

Otherwise, you could end up buying an unsuitable document as one client of mine had done when I first came across his independent record label.  Wanting to avoid legal fees, he had found a site which sold the sort of documents he felt he needed for the particular transaction he was entering.    

When he actually tried to use the document he discovered just how unwieldy it is to adapt a precedent to fit your circumstances.  He was completely out of his depth.  That's when he called on me to help sort out the mess.  He needed a contract in place quickly. 

So, a problem with buying contracts is that you may spend a lot of time trying to understand what you have bought, and still end up with inappropriate terms to cover your circumstances.  It is really important to have a document tailored to your particular situation.  Only then do you have peace of mind in knowing that you have something apt in place. 

Our solution for the small business

For businesses which are generating important copyright works, it is too serious to neglect the copyright aspect. 

For start ups and certain other businesses we can provide a copyright protection service that is priced modestly, because we cover just copyright - not other aspects of your transactions.    

You will see from the Appendix that the laws of most countries allow the parties to agree whatever they like about copyright.  And, virtually all of them will want the transfer of copyright ownership to be in writing and signed.  So, using our services should help you protect your copyright not just in the UK but elsewhere too.

Another common mistake people make is in not realising that sending a letter after the contract has already been formed is generally ineffective. 

So, where the contract is already formed, or you are not sure if you have or have not yet created a binding contract, then it is really important to get legal advice and try to sort it out sooner rather than later.    

Now it's up to you!

I hope you've learned something from this article.  But more importantly, I hope it spurs you into action to set up new procedures to avoid the mistakes highlighted here - because what matters is not knowledge itself, but applied knowledge. 

If you read this report and do nothing, that's just as bad as not reading it at all.  In fact, it's worse, because you've wasted your time!

So, please take action, and start now.

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Can we help you? 

We've worked with clients in a variety of businesses.  We have a lot of repeat business because we know how to provide real and effective help to our clients, even those on a shoe string budget for whom we can often agree fixed price work.  It is these clients who motivated us to create this article.  We understand that many of the small companies of today are going to be the big businesses of the future, and therefore, we do not ignore their needs.

Our services to established businesses

Once you are over the start up/early years phase of your business, we can work with you in a variety of ways to bring you the legal resources your business needs.

Often when a business has survived its first few years, we are asked to review its contractual position, and to put in place standard terms.  Frequently there is a need to  register trademarks, and designs, and revise terms of employment of staff to protect a business know how, and trade secrets, and to have Data Protection audits.  We will advise on other steps the business might take to strengthen its IP protection.

Thereafter, we provide assistance in all sorts of ways, whether it is helping in contract negotiations and drafting, or litigation, or training clients' staff in contract, copyright and brand protection laws.

We can even act as your in-house legal department, and for certain types of work, we are able to offer discounts for volume or regular work.  Why not come and talk to us? 

Or if you already have an in-house lawyer on your team, we are keen to work with them in any way they may find useful - providing expertise in IP law, helping with staff training in IP, assistance with negotiations, contract drafting, or consultancy. 

If you are an in-house lawyer, or solicitor in general practice, we are keen to work with you to help you to deliver the specialist advice that your clients' businesses need.

Alternatively, if you prefer to consult us on ad hoc issues on an hourly rate basis, we are more than happy to help by offering expert business and IP support to your business. 

So, if you'd like to work with us, feel free to visit our website and get in touch with me.