Let me say this very clearly: It's yours if you invented it. Copyrights, patents, trademarks are easily registered with the US gov't to ensure ownership and revenue rights for years to come. Tony Robbins does it, Martha Stewart does it, so why not you?
I asked Beth Andrus, author of "The Essential Business Handbook," to weigh in on the matter.
"I work with very small businesses and many of the women I encounter are new to the business world," says Beth. "Women are often reluctant to take legal steps to protect their intellectual property as they think it involves a long expensive process with lots of attorney fees.
"I have found that women will form partnerships quickly, without committing to paper the division of labor and IP. Women don't want to appear distrustful as most of their partnerships are based on some type of 'best friend' emotions. Important to have someone neutral draw out the terms of the agreement for you so the emotion is kept to a minimum," suggests Beth, CEO of www.minibizbuzz.com.
This is so true! We meet a woman with whom we have instant bonding. We talk, we plan, we dream and work our fingers off to get the 'dream' going. And then when "putting it writing" needs to be done, it's either blood on the table or dissolution of the partnerships with hurt feelings on both sides.
I advise all my clients the following:
Protect all your material. File with the US Gov't all your ideas, process, books, CD, DVD that you have developed. Hold the material as an individual so you can then license it out to the company created to sell the service or item. You enjoy the protection of the US gov't on ownership and revenues.
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