Protecting your intellectual property with a Standard Essential Patent

When your business develops new technical innovations within a specific industry, it’s vitally important for you to protect the resulting intellectual property (IP).

A straightforward way to do this is using a Standard Essential Patent (SEP) that helps you register your IP, while adding to the technical standards framework within your sector.

What’s a Standard Essential Patent (SEP)?

In the UK, a SEP is a patent that protects an invention that's essential to the implementation of a particular technology standard. Without this protection, your IP could be copied and you might miss out on the potential income and revenue streams that a SEP could offer. 

SEPs are important because they:

Reward inventors

With a SEP, as the inventor, you’re fairly rewarded for contributing to the development of global open standards within your industry.

Ensure fair returns

SEPs ensure that you get a fair return on your investment in this IP, as the inventor of a specific cutting-edge technology.

Facilitate widespread use

SEPs help promote the widespread use of standards within your industry and technical niche, aiding the consistent use of these standards.

Encourage innovation

SEPs provide the greatest possible benefits to inventors, innovators and those pushing the envelope in your industry.

Talk to us about exploring SEPs for your IP

The last thing you want is for your technical IP to be ripped off. By exploring the benefits of SEPs, you can:

• Protect your IP as an inventor/business.

• Stop unlicensed use of your invention.

• Contribute to standards in your sectors.

• Bring additional income streams into the business.

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has launched a new online Resource Hub to help UK businesses navigate the SEP landscape. You can access the SEPs Resource Hub here.