The protection of the intellectual property (IP) rights generated by
European entrepreneurs and innovators has become a key issue for
Europe's enterprise society. Innovation is essential for enterprise
development and for the competitiveness of European business. The
European Commission (EC) identified the need to improve the protection
and exploitation of these assets and in October 1998 established the
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Helpdesk. The IPR-Helpdesk is the
central reference point for IP inquiries throughout the European Union
(EU).
The IPR-Helpdesk has three main tasks: to offer IP advice and assistance
to SME's and persons engaged in European Research Projects; to put
callers in touch, where necessary with appropriate advisors or services;
and to promote awareness of the importance of intellectual property
rights for Europe.
To help achieve its main tasks, the IPR-Helpdesk uses two main
communication channels:
1. The IPR-Helpdesk Website http://www.cordis.lu/ipr-helpdesk
The website provides in-depth IPR information that everyone who is
involved in business, technology, or research in today's competitive
market needs to know. In addition to this basic information, the site
publishes detailed relevant in-depth information.
2. The Helpline [log in to unmask]
This is run by a team of legal experts who are on hand to answer IP
inquiries from anyone, but particularly from persons engaged in EU
research activities.
All the services of the IPR-Helpdesk are FREE.
We have recently produced a CD-ROM which is available FREE and contains
an off-line version of our multilingual website, all IPR tutorials and
guides, including the esp@cenet for the SME and Research communities and
many other useful tools and information.
For more information either visit the IPR-Helpdesk website or send an
e-mail to [log in to unmask]
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