Keeping tabs on IP needn't be a big challenge

  Posted by IP Manifest

We've designed the IP Manifest toolset to make your life easier. And its all completely free courtesy of funding from the Intellectual Property Office.

In this article we're going to walk you through how it works. The first thing to do is to do a self audit of your present IP situation. You can use our online tools to do that. But don't forget to decide which persona you are before you answer the questions. If you want to know more about the personas and how they came about then please read our article Who are you?

Once you've answered the questions you'll receive a personalised report by email. That report will provide some hints and tips on how to look after your IP better. And all these hints and tips will be set in the context of getting your priorities right. Good IP housekeeping is important but it isn't the be all and end all of a successful creative business. It's more important that you develop instinctive skills as part of being a creative. The report also has a checklist.

That's where our IP Manifest canvas comes in. The simple chevron design provides a strong visual prompt for you to keep in the back of your mind. You can keep it updated online or on a paper wall canvas. You'll need to act on the suggestions in the report and follow the checklist that comes with the report. Then you can keep a live "to do" list regarding IP housekeeping in any way you want by following the guidance on the IP Manifest.