Why Intellectual Property is Essential for your Business
- secure competitive advantages
- generate revenue streams
- reduce tax liability
- serve as a source of competitive intelligence
- facilitate access to financing
- attract investors and partners
- avoid and mitigate relevant risks.
WIPO IP Diagnostics
WIPO tools and resources for businesses
Benefits of intellectual property rights for a business
- Identify your business opportunities and risks associated with IP using our IP Diagnostic Tool.
- Read about essential IP topics for your business in our IP for Business Guides.
- Walk through a startup's journey with our Enterprising Ideas infographic.
- Learn more about key issues to be considered while developing your IP strategy with our IP Strategy Checklist for SMEs.
- Resolve your IP and technology disputes through mediation and arbitration.
- Tackle your domain name disputes.
- Access high quality technology information and related services in your country through our Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs).
- Navigate IP manangement at every stage of your business life cycle withIP Business Moments.
Stay in the Loop – Explore the latest content
WIPO Launches First IP Management Clinic in Qatar
WIPO partners with Qatar to guide SMEs and startups in turning ideas into protected business assets.
Mongolia Chess Sets bring National History to Life
Discover how a Mongolian couple transforms history into craftsmanship through themed chess sets — and uses intellectual property to reach a global audience.
Call for applications IP Management Clinic 2025 – Energy
Calling energy-sector startups and SMEs: apply now for WIPO’s IP Management Clinic and learn to turn your inventions into strategic assets.
Kavčič Furniture: Sustainable Manufacturer Builds an Ambitious Intellectual Property Strategy
See how a Slovenian furniture maker turned sustainability into strength — by using IP to protect design, expand markets, and drive growth.
Maldives Hosts its First-Ever Intellectual Property Management Clinic to Help Maldivian SMEs Use IP
In a milestone for the Maldives, local SMEs receive bespoke mentorship and training to unlock the power of IP in emerging creative industries.
WIPO programs and other initiatives to support businesses and innovators
IP Management Clinics for SMEs
SME Support Institutions Platform (SSIP)
IP Business Moments
The Inventor Assistance Program
One day IP workshop
Intellectual Property Finance
News
The Power of Intellectual Property for Fashion SMEs
December 10, 2025
WIPO IP Diagnostics Tool Reaches More Than 100,000 Users Worldwide
December 10, 2025
WIPO – Intellectual Property for Enterprise Growth on LinkedIn
Benefits of intellectual property rights for a business + expand your business with IP rights
Benefits of intellectual property rights for a business
- A brand sets a business apart from its competitors, building trust and consumer loyalty. Learn more about trademarks.
- From reassuring investors to increasing margins, using your patents strategically can improve your bottom line.
- Protecting the way your product looks with an industrial design can provide a major competitive advantage.
- Copyright protects the expression of an idea, in different forms.
- When the source and authenticity matter, using geographical indications can identify your product as being the real deal.
- Trade secrets have the potential to protect a wide range of information that has commercial value due to its confidential nature.
- Plant breeding results in new, improved plant varieties that are an important and sustainable means of achieving food security in the context of population growth and climate change.
Expand your business with IP rights
IP audit
Secure financing
IP valuation
Assignment and licensing
FIT Japan Foundations: Stories behind the Projects
AI and IP
IP in action – learn how SMEs are using their IP
More about IP in your business sector
IP and Tourism
IP and Mobile Applications
Indigenous SMEs and IP
Learn about IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, and IP for Business Division.
Why Intellectual Property is Essential for your Business
A well-crafted intellectual property strategy can help maximize the potential of your business. Using and understanding the IP rights, you can:
• secure competitive advantages
• generate revenue streams
• reduce tax liability
• serve as a source of competitive intelligence
• facilitate access to financing
• attract investors and partners
• avoid and mitigate relevant risks
WIPO IP Diagnostics
The IP Diagnostic Tool helps you identify your business' IP assets and provides you with an automated report with basic information on how to manage these assets.
Benefits of intellectual property rights for a business
- A brand sets a business apart from its competitors, building trust and consumer loyalty. Learn more abouttrademarks.
- From reassuring investors to increasing margins, using yourpatents strategically can improve your bottom line.
- Protecting the way your product looks with anindustrial design can provide a major competitive advantage.
- Copyright protects the expression of an idea, in different forms.
- When the source and authenticity matter, usinggeographical indications can identify your product as being the real deal.
- Trade secrets have the potential to protect a wide range of information that has commercial value due to its confidential nature.
- Plant breeding results in new, improvedplant varieties that are an important and sustainable means of achieving food security in the context of population growth and climate change.
WIPO tools and resources for businesses
- Identify your business opportunities and risks associated with IP using ourIP Diagnostic Tool.
- Read about essential IP topics for your business in ourIP for Business Guides.
- Walk through a startup's journey with ourEnterprising Ideas infographic.
- Learn more about key issues to be considered while developing your IP strategy with ourIP Strategy Checklist for SMEs.
- Resolve your IP and technology disputes throughmediation and arbitration.
- Tackle yourdomain name disputes.
- Access high quality technology information and related services in your country through ourTechnology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs).
WIPO programs and other initiatives to support businesses and innovators
IP Management Clinics for SMEs
Support for innovative companies in formulating their IP strategies.
SME Support Institutions Platform (SSIP)
Your gateway to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) support: connect, find resources, and grow your business
Patent Drafting Training Program
Improving the skills of those filing patent applications.
WIPOD – Make IP Your Business
Podcast that features how business can make the most out of their IP.
Entrepreneurs Online Network
Strategies, insights from experts and available resources to put IP to use for businesses.
Intellectual Property Finance
Learn more about how to monetize and leverage your IP assets.
Expand your business with IP rights
IP audit
Conduct an IP audit to review the IP owned and used by your business.
Secure financing
Use your IP assets to secure financing for your business.
IP valuation
Understand the economic value of your IP assets by carrying out an IP valuation.
Assignment and licensing
Earn revenues through assignment and licensing of your IP assets.
IP in action – learn how SMEs are using their IP
Learn how businesses use the IP system and benefit from their IP rights with our stories.
Video: IP is critical to Enda’s success as a shoe manufacturer
Video: Why investing in IP early pays off
Video: Expert tips to build your IP strategy
Developing and protecting your online brand: tips for the new entrepreneur
A brand identity comprises the name, trademark, logo, slogan and other indicia of the brand, such as color scheme (collectively, the brand). Most of this is protectable under trademark law in every country and jurisdiction.
Full story
Building a better future with recycled plastic
The pavers produced by Gjenge are made of polymer concrete, which is basically sand and plastic. The sand is the aggregate and the plastic is the binder. The pavers are seven times stronger than concrete.
Full story
EHang: The Sky’s the Limit
Why is IP the key to survival and development for SMEs? Discover eHang’s case study now.
Energysquare makes wireless recharging a reality
Energysquare is reinventing the way we charge our electronic devices. Their wireless-charging technology, Power by Contact® offers a smart solution for charging several devices simultaneously.
Full story
Interactive Digital Stories for the Innovator and Creator!
Read and interact with these IP for Business stories and learn how entrepreneurs and businesses use intellectual property to enrich their innovations and creativity.
More about IP in your business sector
IP and Tourism
Do you own a hotel or restaurant, run a rental car business, manage a travel agency or any other business that provides services to tourists? Find out how the IP system may be able to help you.
IP and Mobile Applications
Intellectual property (IP) mechanisms help mobile application developers and publishers to generate more income from their creations.
Indigenous SMEs and IP
SMEs run by indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) can face additional challenges and concerns as they begin to navigate the IP system.
Learn aboutIP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, andIP for Business Division.