Want To Be An IP Superhero? Here Is What You Need To Know

Counterfeiters, patent infringers and Intellectual Property villains are infiltrating the business world, and someone needs to stop them. Inventors, innovators and businesses large and small need IP superheroes, and you could be one of them.

There is room for more than one superhero in the world of IP, and you don't need a cape or mask to get started. Here is an introduction to the different roles that you can have in the world of IP:

"Shadow Hunter" - anti-counterfeiting

Counterfeiters cost the global economy an estimated $250 billion a year. Their victims are businesses of all sizes, but consumers also suffer when they buy inferior, knock-off products that do not work as promised and do not last as long as the real thing. Some counterfeit products can even be deadly. Counterfeit drugs, for example, may contain no active ingredients, the wrong dose, or harmful substances, and patients usually can't tell the difference.

Law enforcement alone has not been enough to stop the flood of counterfeit goods from crossing borders and landing in the hands of unsuspecting consumers. Businesses need smart, passionate people to help them pursue existing counterfeiters and prevent new ones from entering the marketplace. Brand protection professionals are heroes to the small and large businesses who face these issues every day — they investigate counterfeiting, implement brand protection programs, develop anti-counterfeiting strategies and communicate with law enforcement — tasks that the average business owner often cannot manage alone.

"The Visionary" - patent examiner

Patent examiners have a strong background in a field of science and engineering — this makes them uniquely qualified to search and examine patent applications. Patent examiners collect information and study the technical literature to determine the patentability of an invention, and they prepare the initial report that helps the inventor or attorney decide on a course of action. These IP professionals often see technological innovation as it happens, which makes this an exciting and fascinating career path for qualified engineers and scientists.

"Doctor Inventor" - patent engineer

Even small inventions need patent protection, and the average inventor is not equipped to navigate the process without help from a qualified IP professional. Patent engineers can be heroes, too, freeing inventors from the severe burden of preparing a patent application alone. They make patent drawings and...

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