Competing globally: how to be a player without losing the company

With free trade and the opening-up of many foreign markets, Canadian businesses are increasingly `going global´ in order to enter new and larger markets and to remain competitive. However, the unwary business can find itself in hot water in the global marketplace over a variety of legal issues relating to intellectual property. Patents, trademarks, designs and copyrights can be the salvation or bane of a business in the global marketplace and these businesses need to be aware of the offensive and defensive uses of intellectual property. This paper addresses some of the basic issues to be considered when entering a global market, especially for the first time. The benefit of obtaining and registering a business´ intellectual property is discussed, as are the steps to be taken to avoid running afoul of a third party´s intellectual property