Your Guide to IP in Europe

Intellectual property (IP) management is a key element in improving the competitiveness of any company. Unfortunately, small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) often lack the time, resources, or knowledge to address IP matters. This guide aims at providing answers to some of the main IP issues often faced by SMEs. It has been developed on the basis of the answers provided by the European IP Helpdesk to some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) submitted by users through the European IP Helpdesk website and Helpline. Moreover, it refers to several reference documents, which are listed at the end of each section for further information.