Why is IP relevant to SME? IP is a company asset. The intellectual property system may affect a business in almost every stage of its business cycle: from product development to product design, from service delivery to marketing, and fromĀ raising financial resources to exporting or expanding business abroad through licensing or franchising. IP is as well a well situated indicator for future product developments, helping banks and investors to reduce their risk. Almost every SMEĀ would have developed a large number of creative original designs and should consider protecting them. Some may have invented or improved a product or service. Many would have produced, or assisted in the publication or dissemination of a copyrighted work. In all cases, an enterprise should consider how best to use the IP system for its own benefit. This means to identify, protect and utilize its ip systematically in order to get the best possible commercial result from its ownership.