Sharing Intellectual Property (IP) (your ideas) requires that the tangible details as a result come under control. For small business this is usually brought about by a series of encounters with IP. They are discussed here in the relative order in which small businesses usually encounter them. COMPANY FOUNDING PERSONNEL: A small business usually encounters IP and Proprietary Data (PD) concerns when it is formed. The operating agreement between the founders must address these matters from the perspective of who brings property to the venture and who owns it as well as the rights to the property developed thereafter. A typical operating agreement may be downloaded from the Box Net “References” cube in the right margin of this site * https://www.smalltofeds.com/ * Please examine it as a framework and add those elements that are unique to your enterprise. EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS The next encounter usually entails employees or contractors who apply for work. It is wise to inquire as a standard practice, and as part of an employment agreement or contract, whether or not an individual has signed a non-compete or proprietary data (PD) agreement with prior employers. If they have, acquire a copy of the agreement and assess whether or not the employment of these personnel poses a risk of IP violations in terms of another company's property or their claim to ownership of what the candidate may develop on your behalf while in your employ. Make it clear in your agreements of hire and contracts that IP and PD that employees may participate in developing are the exclusive property of the company, that they will not own it and that they are expected to protect it, even when they leave your firm. INDUSTRY PARTNERS Declare in your non-disclosure, teaming, and contract agreements the precise definition of the IP and PD ownership brought to the table and the exact share of ownership in subsequent development items. Most firms use the efforts of their employees (labor records) as a basis to make these distinctions, but further specificity may be necessary on complex projects. SUMMARY: The best intellectual property protections are well understood, practical, teaming relationships among partners, employees, industry and government. All sides in such relationships lose if disclosure or violations occur.