The text on this page was automatically translated and hence may differ from the original. No rights can be derived from this translation.
The government has established intellectual property rights to provide protection for creative products of the human mind that can become subjects of production and trade. An intellectual property right entails an exclusive right to 'use' (in short: production and/or trade) the protected creation. Depending on the form of the intellectual property right, these rights may arise automatically or need to be granted by the competent authority.
Compared to most neighbouring countries, relatively few small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Flanders protect their intellectual property. Only 10% of SMEs actively manage their intellectual properties. Therefore, since December 2008, the Agency for Enterprise has also offered the IP scan. The IP scan project is a pilot by the Agency for Enterprise aimed at informing, sensitising, and guiding SMEs in Flanders in the management of their intellectual property rights (IP). Companies are scanned, which may lead to a free consultation from an expert in the field of intellectual property.
Dialogic is conducting an evaluation of the IP scan project for the Agency for Enterprise. The evaluation aims to answer the question: "How useful are the IP scan and the subsequent advice as a sensitisation tool for SMEs?" The evaluation results and report will be presented and distributed at the 'Open IP Day' on 5th October 2010, a major event to inform SMEs about intellectual property. This day is organised in collaboration with all IP stakeholders in Flanders. The report should therefore be accessible to a wide audience (largely SMEs). In addition, the evaluation study is intended to complete the ERDF dossier and thus meet the goals of the ERDF project. Finally, the evaluation will contribute to formulating policy recommendations.
