By Emma Johnson, partner at Forresters
This year we’ve seen engineering companies switching focus and working collaboratively to produce ventilators and PPE, as well as help increase hospital capacity.
It’s not surprising that this ‘wartime’ effort from our country’s engineers and designers has led to an increase in enquiries about how they can protect these new medical devices.
At Forresters, we are now working with a number of people and companies that have created a Covid-19 related design, and want the security of IP (Intellectual Property) protection. They know that, even when their company has diversified away from its normal product ranges and practices, patents are an important part of the process.
Patents can provide protection for a range of things, from concepts and designs through to processes, components and finished devices. IP protection is critical for companies that want to maintain both their market advantage and their reputation. This is particularly important for engineers, who are usually on the front line when it comes to innovation. They are often leading the way when it comes to designs and inventions, especially at times of crisis.
However, sometimes engineers don’t realise that what they have created can be patented – this is when it’s best to arrange a consultation with a patent attorney. A patent attorney can give inventors advice, talk them through the process and draft a patent application that will help ensure the invention is protected.
One of the most awe-inspiring responses to the pandemic came from the Ventilator Challenge UK where a number of the country’s engineering firms, including car and aerospace manufacturers, worked together to increase the production of ventilators. Even rival companies joined forces and this collaborative working saw prototypes created in days, and complete devices finished within weeks.
So what is the next challenge facing engineers as they move forward in the fight against Covid-19?
It’s clear that engineers are leading the way when it comes to creating technology that can be used now, and to battle future diseases. We know that essential workers need to be applauded, but a pat on the back also needs to go to the heroes who work behind the scenes creating the high-tech solutions that have helped to save lives, both now and in the future.
For more information about protecting your intellectual property contact Forresters at [email protected]
