Companies must own a number of assets to boast their worth. This principle applies not only to companies in Rwanda (East-Africa) but to all other companies all over the world. It is due to lack of adequate assets that many companies have failed to increase their net worth/Market Value. This is why, it always very important for companies to understand and opt for other possible means of increasing their assets like Intellectual Property (IP), though this is still underestimated by several companies, because of limited knowledge of how IP can increase the Market Value of Companies. Below we shade light on how different companies will increase their Market Value using IP.

A company’s Intellectual property (IP) may include but not limited to: industrial property which applies to the exclusive right to use inventions, innovations or utility models, product or service marks, industrial designs or models, trade names, geographical indications, layout designs of integrated circuits and the right to request the elimination of acts of unfair competition; copyrights and related rights which apply to literary, artistic and scientific works, to performances of performing artists as well as phonograms and wireless broadcasting .

Registered IP is an extremely valuable asset for any business — especially for creative businesses, like design, writing, art or handmade items. If you’ve developed or obtained the rights to any intellectual property that is critical to your business or your industry, you’ll find that having that IP can dramatically increase the market value of your business — and open up even more doors to opportunities for future profits.

In addition, when there’s a high demand for your service- or product-based IP already in the marketplace or industry, securing legal protection can be even more important.

Today, we discuss the ways that IP can be leveraged to increase your company’s market value in Rwanda (East Africa)

𝗜𝗣 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Normally, many prominent companies own various IP inform of, trade-names, trademarks patents and among others. This kind of IP is admired and can be useful to other competitors or other organizations/companies, that may prefer to legally use the similar IP. So, this IP can be licensed or assigned or transferred in exchange of money to other organizations/companies. This way the company owning the IP will increase its capital say through increase of shares. Hence, the increase the Market Value of the company.

𝗜𝗣 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀)

In this era, a business without IP is not doing well like others with IP, because the first thing a business sells is the brand/tradename/trademark before even selling its services or goods. One must always appreciate and understand that one of the most powerful things that IP can do for your business is give it more appeal and a higher face value to financing institutions and investors. If you control a powerful or influential piece of intellectual property that provides value to your business, market or industry, investors are going to be interested and, in turn, will be willing to shell out more for what you have.

𝗜𝗣 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

For example, if one owns a company that has selling and reputable IP like brands or trade names or trademarks. During any merger or acquisition, such company will be given additional value compared to a company that has no IP in place. Many businesses have witnessed this and scholars have written that in the event that you have to sell your business, go through a merger or be acquired, your intellectual property may guarantee you more money and protection. IP assets can noticeably increase the value of your business and, in these unique circumstances, may be the primary or only asset of value that you have.  However, IP has to be well protected and registered to be adequately valued.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐏 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭

We have observed above that IP is a very important asset to business. Therefore, IP must be protected by any other asset of the business. So that it is not infringed or lost. Registration of IP is the safest way to protect and increase the business IP. 

We recommend that If you have IP make sure that you legally register it, manage it, maintain it and monitor it closely so that you can reap all of the benefits of having it as discussed above. Remember: – IP is valued when protected/registered. A company must start with registering its Trade/business/company name.

𝘈𝘥𝘷. 𝘒𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘪. 𝘈𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘥

 +250787337024 (𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘈𝘱𝘱)