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Overview
Not-for-profits (NPOs) and associations’ primary focus is on advancing social, cultural, educational or charitable objectives; as a result, safeguarding their intellectual property (IP) becomes a secondary concern. However, it is crucial not to neglect protecting your intellectual property. This includes elements such as logos, slogans, proprietary research, educational publications, digital content and many others. Without adequate IP protection, these organizations risk losing control over their branding and reputation, which could harm their ability to attract donors, volunteers, members and other stakeholders. Securing IP ensures the originality and authenticity of their work are protected, discouraging misuse or exploitation by others.
At MBM, we work with many NPOs, sports associations, community and arts organizations, healthcare associations, professional associations, government service agencies, universities and colleges, and many more. We understand your challenges regarding budgeting and accountability, so we always begin with a complimentary consultation to determine what you need and how we can best help, then we outline a transparent fee structure to ensure clear objectives and deliverables that can be shared with your board and stakeholders. Some services we regularly provide to Associations and NPOs include trademark services, drafting and reviewing contracts and agreements (including licensing agreements), certification marks, copyrights, drafting and reviewing website Privacy Policy and Terms of Use policies, patent services, IP litigation, and others. MBM will also happily provide seminars and webinars on different IP topics to enhance IP knowledge and the importance of protecting your IP for your team and members.
MBM’s team of lawyers, trademark and patent agents understand the value NPOs and associations provide to local, national, and international communities. Many members of our team sit on boards or volunteer with charitable organizations, so we know firsthand the importance of protecting the integrity of these groups. MBM can help your organization and your members with their IP needs so you can focus on your primary objective of servicing the community.
We can assist with the following IP services:
Brand Integrity and Reputation:
Trademarks: NPOs and associations need to build strong brands to promote their mission, attract donors and members and engage volunteers. Protecting their logos, names, slogans, and other branding elements ensures that the organization maintains control over its brand identity, preventing unauthorized use or imitation of their brand that could damage its reputation, confuse or mislead the public and negatively affect their ability to raise funds or carry out their mission. A protected brand builds trust among donors, volunteers, members and beneficiaries, as it shows the organization is professionally managed and can safeguard its assets.
Content and Creative Works:
Copyrights: Many NPOs and associations create valuable content such as reports, educational materials, publications, videos, and website content. Copyright protection ensures that this content cannot be reproduced, distributed, or modified without permission, preserving the integrity and intended use of the work. Protecting educational materials or unique content ensures that it is not used in ways that could harm the organization’s mission or confuse its messaging.
Innovation and R&D:
Patents: Some NPOs and associations engage in research and development, creating new technologies or processes and methods, particularly in sectors like healthcare, education, and environmental conservation. Protecting these innovations through patents can help control their use and ensure that they align with the organization’s mission and values.
Fundraising and Partnerships:
- Monetizing Intellectual Assets: Organizations can license or monetize their intellectual property, creating additional revenue streams to further the organization’s mission and support their charitable activities.
- Attracting Funding: Having protected IP can enhance the value proposition to donors and partners, showing that the organization has unique assets that are safeguarded.
- Collaborations: IP protection is often crucial when partnering with other organizations, businesses, or governments. Clear ownership of IP rights helps define the terms of collaboration and ensures that the nonprofit’s interests are protected.
Preventing Misrepresentation and Fraud:
Protecting trademarks and other IP helps prevent third parties from misusing or exploiting the organization’s content, research, or branding for profit or malicious intent, which can dilute the impact of their mission and damage the organization’s reputation and trust with the public.
Legal Protection and Litigation:
IP protection provides a legal framework to address disputes. If an association or NPO’s IP is misused or infringed upon, having proper IP protection in place allows the organization to take legal action to protect its interests.
Contracts and Agreements:
NPOs and associations often engage in third-party relationships, so it is imperative that their IP contracts and agreements are solid from the start. Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating IP contracts and agreements ensures that these organizations retain their appropriate rights.
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- IP ownership agreements
- Licensing agreements
- R&D collaboration agreements
- Material transfer agreements
- Strategic alliances agreements
IP Education Sessions:
MBM can provide complimentary seminars and webinars on different IP topics to enhance IP knowledge and the importance of protecting your IP for your team, board and member organizations.
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