Resources and Checklists

IP 101 IP 101 Government IP Funding Programs Across Canada Government IP Funding Programs Across Canada CIPO Checklist of Different Types of IP CIPO Checklist of Different Types of IP

Overview

For startups and small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), intellectual property, such as patents, industrial designs, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, is one of their most valuable assets, and protecting it is crucial to their business success. At any startup, in any industry, intellectual property and the right strategy to protect it should be a proactive conversation that happens at the very beginning of the formation of your business or the development of a new product/service.

Much like companies take inventory of their hard goods, it is also vital for an organization to take stock of their intangible assets, specifically IP assets. Those IP assets have tremendous value and should be at the center of your business plan. Having a clear understanding of your current IP and its value can help you get VC funding, form needed partnerships, establish licensing opportunities, or uncover new product opportunities.

We have extensive experience working with startups and SMEs, developing a well-defined IP strategy and IP portfolio that aligns with your overall business plan to leverage the most value from your IP.

At MBM, we know starting a business or scaling one up with limited resources can be overwhelming. So, let us focus on protecting your IP so you can focus on your business.

Why should a startup engage an IP law firm?

  1. Protecting intellectual property: A startup’s intellectual property (IP) can be its most valuable asset, and protecting it is crucial to its success. IP law is a highly specialized field that requires significant legal expertise and technical knowledge. An IP law firm can help a startup identify, protect, and enforce its IP rights, including patents, industrial designs, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, ensuring that they are adequately registered and protected from infringement by competitors.
  2. Avoiding infringement: A startup may unintentionally infringe on someone else’s IP, leading to costly legal battles. An IP law firm can help a startup conduct a comprehensive IP clearance search to ensure that its products or services do not infringe on anyone else’s IP rights.
  3. Licensing agreements: A startup may need to license its IP to generate revenue or license someone else’s IP to develop its products or services. An IP law firm can help a startup negotiate and draft licensing agreements that protect its interests.
  4. Funding, Venture capital and M&A: Investors, lenders and potential buyers often view a startup’s intellectual property as a critical factor in determining its value and potential for success. They will closely examine a startup’s IP portfolio before investing in, lending money to or acquiring the company. By working with an IP law firm to develop a solid IP strategy and build a strong IP portfolio, a startup can demonstrate that it has taken the necessary steps to protect its IP, which will increase its value and appeal to potential investors, lenders and buyers.
  5. Competitive advantage: By protecting their intellectual property, startups can gain a competitive advantage in their market. An IP law firm can help a startup develop and implement strategies for protecting its IP and preventing competitors from infringing upon it.
  6. Litigation support: If a startup needs to enforce its IP rights or defend against claims of infringement, an IP law firm can represent it throughout the litigation process, including in court.

The initial consultation is always complimentary

When you first reach out to MBM about your IP needs, your initial consultation, either by phone, Zoom or in person, is always complimentary. During this consultation, it is your time to describe your business and inventions to us and for us to absorb and evaluate that information to identify what type of IP you might have. After the initial consultation, we will send you an email providing a general cost estimate for protecting your IP. Click on the button at the top of the page to book your free needs assessment.

Small Businesses Benefit from Reduced Government Fees for Patents

For individuals, startups and SMEs, when seeking a patent, if they employ fewer than 100 employees and qualify as a “small entity” under Canadian Patent Rules, certain government fees are reduced by 50%-60%.

Government IP Funding Programs Across Canada

To assist startups and SMEs in funding IP-related costs, various government funding programs have been developed across Canada to help companies secure IP rights. MBM can help companies determine if they are eligible for government IP assistance and funding and which programs to apply for.

Some specific IP support programs available across Canada are: Elevate IP, IP ASSIST (IRAP), and Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON). These programs provide funding for IP education, IP strategy, and IP implementation and cover a variety of industries. The team at MBM has been involved with these programs from the initial launch and is well versed in the assessment, due diligence, application and implementation stages. MBM is an approved service provider for all three programs: Elevate IP, IP Assist, and IPON.

  • Elevate IP:
    ElevateIP is a federal program delivered Canada-wide through selected business accelerators and incubators (BAIs) in collaboration with regional partners to help start-ups develop and implement IP strategies, in addition to offering IP education services. To learn more about the Elevate IP program, please click here.
  • IP Assist (IRAP):
    IP Assist, administered by The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), is a national IP funding program designed to support SMEs’ IP efforts. Under the IP Assist Program, SMEs can receive support and funding across three different levels: IP Awareness, IP Strategy, and IP Action. To learn more about the IP Assist program, please click here.
  • Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON):
    IPON is a provincially run program that provides support to Ontario-based SMEs operating in one of IPON’s served sectors—MedTech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, vehicle technology, and mining and advanced manufacturing—to promote innovation and growth in these highly desired sectors in Ontario. To learn more about the IPON program, please click here.

For more information and eligibility requirements about Government IP Funding opportunities and the application process, Click Here.

Learn about IP – Educational Resources

MBM is always happy to provide an educational seminar about IP for your staff. We also frequently organize IP 101 seminars for various startup accelerators and university incubators. In addition, we consistently produce content in the form of articles on our website and our IP blog “Canadian Intellectual Property Blog”, so feel free to sign up to receive the latest IP insights.

Resources and Checklists

IP 101 IP 101 Government IP Funding Programs Across Canada Government IP Funding Programs Across Canada CIPO Checklist of Different Types of IP CIPO Checklist of Different Types of IP

We Are Working With Organizations That Support Startups

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Launch Lab
Innovate Calgary
Build Ventures
Northwestern Ontario Innovation
Invest Ottawa
TIE Ottawa
New Ventures BC
IPON
ElevateIP
Communitech
Accelerate IP
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What our clients say about us

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MBM is truly a full-service IP firm. When we started with them, Randy and Scott assembled a dedicated team of MBMers to manage our account in all areas of IP. Randy, Grace, Dan, and Jamal handle our patents and contracts; Scott and Deborah handle our litigation; Poonam handles our industrial designs; and Elizabeth handles our trademarks. It may seem like a big MBM team, but when you are a growing business, you need a strong IP team. They all work seamlessly together, communicating and coordinating internally and externally with our team and the network of foreign associates for our international portfolio. MBM’s fee structure is transparent and reasonable, communicated to us in advance of any project, which helps us with budgeting. We value their savvy advice and rely on them for all our IP needs.

— Brandon Vaters, VP of Operations, 1-VALET

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We always chose to work with MBM for patents because they are efficient and proactive. I never feel like I waste any time or dollars working with MBM. Every dollar we spend contributes directly to an ROI for our shareholders. If we can achieve our IP goals for less investment, they’ll show me how and provide support doing it. They aren’t a cookie-cutter law firm trying to maximize billables. They also always give me enough notice to make decisions and take action before any pending filing deadlines. I really appreciate that about them. Finally, working with Stuart Bristowe feels like working with a strategic partner with aligned goals and motivations. He is always using his experience to guide us into the most efficient path forward. Sometimes, it’s scorching the earth. Other times, it’s going for a patent.

— Gonzalo Tudela, CEO, EXAMIND AI

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When people think of Kettlemans bagels, they don’t often think of trademarks, patents and other intellectual property. But if you have a brand or starting one, you need to protect your identity. For Kettlemans brand, we have relied on MBM’s team for that, and they have delivered. Randy, Scott and the rest of the MBM team have provided tremendous direction and IP strategy guidance. They have spent time with us, asking questions, listening to our needs, and explaining the best course of action to protect our brand. Securing our IP rights, especially our trademarks, has been an essential part of our business strategy as we expanded our brand. It’s been a huge benefit to have MBM as a partner because they help us better understand what should be protected and how.

— Amer Wahab, President, Kettlemans Bagel

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Because we are in the CleanTech space, which is constantly evolving, it was important for us to find an IP firm that understood our industry well, the challenges we face, and could provide the strategic IP advice needed for us to expand into international markets. We found that in MBM. Randy, Suzanne, and Elizabeth have been helping us with drafting, filing and prosecuting our patent and trademark portfolios around the world, exhibiting exceptional technical skills and legal acumen and providing straightforward advice. In addition, their prompt responsiveness and attention to detail always show their professionalism. We are grateful for their IP advice and unwavering commitment to helping us break boundaries and grow our business.

— Cameron Runte, VP of Product Development, Grafoid/Purafy

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Expander has been working with Dr. Poonam Tauh and the MBM team for over 10 years. They have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of our business and our inventions and always provide straightforward, no-nonsense advice in a cost-effective manner. Poonam is highly experienced in the fields of Clean Energy, Low Carbon Intensity fuels, Oil and Gas and Chemistry. As a result, she tailors her advice to our specific needs. She is always very responsive, ready to discuss patent strategy, and offers a reasonable fee structure for all MBM IP services. We value MBM’s savvy advice, rely on them for all our IP needs and would never hesitate to recommend them to any business in need of Intellectual Property advice. MBM is truly a full-service IP firm!

— Gord Crawford, President and CEO, Expander Energy Inc.

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I am delighted to express my sincere appreciation for the services provided by MBM. Under the guidance of MBM’s team of brilliant lawyers and supporting staff, Lodestar Structures successfully navigated the complex process of patenting our innovative Lodestar Building Modules worldwide. Their attentiveness, expertise, and proactive approach have made them an invaluable partner in safeguarding our intellectual property. Working with MBM has been a pleasure, and I wholeheartedly recommend their expertise to any organization seeking top-notch legal support in the realm of intellectual property.

— Jeff Bradfield, CEO. Lodestar Structures

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Propell has relied upon the expertise of the professionals at MBM for more than ten years. Throughout that time our IP portfolio has grown under the guidance of Mike Maskery who has displayed an uncanny ability to understand the nuances of our products and inventions. Mike and the team at MBM have always responded promptly and comprehensively with advice and opinion and have managed our portfolio flawlessly.

— James Easden, Chief Commercial Officer, Propell, TYCROP Manufacturing Limited

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We have worked with MBM for over 15 years. They have always been quick to respond, thoughtful in their approach, and focused on our success. In many ways, they are an extension of our team and a real partner in our business growth. We trust in their IP guidance and feel comfortable knowing they understand our vision and will help protect our IP, as we aim to provide scalable and proven waste-to-clean-fuel solutions to support a circular economy.

— Michael Wahl, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, OMNI Conversion Technologies

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The MBM team is great to work with. They understand our needs as a customer and provide prompt and detailed feedback regarding our trademark and litigation matters. They are always readily available should there ever be an urgent request or question. Scott, Deborah, Sabrina, and Elizabeth are important resources to our company.

— Chris Veillon, Chief Marketing Officer, Pure Hothouse Foods