Intellectual property inventory checklist
From: Canadian Intellectual Property Office
View as PDF (PDF: 56 KB; 1 page)
Permission to reproduce
Except as otherwise specifically noted, the information in this publication may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), provided that due diligence is exercised in ensuring the accuracy of the information reproduced, that CIPO is identified as the source institution, and that the reproduction is not represented as an official version of the information reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of, CIPO.
For permission to reproduce the information in this publication for commercial redistribution, please email droitdauteur.copyright@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca.
Use this checklist to explore the types of intellectual property you could exploit.
Do not include intangibles that are licensed from or owned by other companies!
| Holding | Yes | No | IP to consider | Actions to considerFootnote * |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising or signage | Trademark Copyright |
Include an indication of copyright and/or trademark rights | ||
| Algorithm | Trade secret | Require NDAsFootnote 2 or do not disclose! | ||
| Book, magazine, newsletter or manual | Copyright | Include a copyright statement in a prominent location (year of first publication, owner, ©) | ||
| Business, product or service name | Trademark | Include an indication of trademark rights | ||
| Customer list or data | Trade secret Copyright |
Require NDAs or do not disclose! Include a copyright statement if it is a compilation |
||
| Domain name | Trademark | Search trademark databases to ensure your domain name is not someone else's trademark | ||
| Logo or symbol | Trademark | Include an indication of trademark rights | ||
| Mobile app | Copyright Industrial design |
Include a copyright statement on your app or download site Industrial design Maintain confidentiality until filing design registration for your graphical user interface; use NDAs |
||
| New or improved machine or device | Patent | Maintain confidentiality until a patent application is filed; use NDAs | ||
| New or improved process or chemical compound | Patent | Maintain confidentiality until a patent application is filed; use NDAs | ||
| Packaging | Industrial design Trademark |
Maintain confidentiality until filing design registration; use NDAs |
||
| Photographs or illustrations | Copyright Industrial design |
Include a copyright statement in a prominent location (year of first publication, owner, ©) Maintain confidentiality until filing design registration if applied on a finished article; use NDAs |
||
| Secret recipe, process or formula | Trade secret | Use NDAs; or if it can be easily reverse-engineered, seek patent protection! | ||
| Slogan | Trademark | Include an indication of trademark rights | ||
| Software | Copyright Industrial design Patent |
Include a copyright statement in a prominent location (year of first publication, owner, ©) Maintain confidentiality until filing design registration for your graphical user interface; use NDAs Ask the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for information on software-related patents (related concepts) Establish ownership with suppliers or clients through written agreement |
||
| Training materials | Copyright | Include a copyright statement in a prominent location (year of first publication, owner, ©) | ||
| Shape of a product | Industrial design | Maintain confidentiality until filing for design registration; use NDAs | ||
| Website | Copyright Industrial design |
Include a copyright statement in a prominent location (year of first publication, owner, ©) Maintain confidentiality until filing design registration for graphical user interface; use NDAs |
Visit Canada.ca/intellectualproperty for more information on IP.
- Date modified: