During an IP Builder kickoff this morning, a new client astutely asked about IP ownership of the Headshots we’ll create together.

Answer: all final work-product created during the Sprint is 100% the client’s.

But it also prompted a question that I’ve answered in webinars, but not here:

🤔 How should I be thinking about legally protecting the Headshots, and any other frameworks I create?

First, the major disclaimer that I am not an IP attorney.

If you’re interested in hearing from or talking to a US IP attorney, I’d recommend following Erin Austin who specializes in copyright protection for solopreneurs (and is overall a lovely person!)

Erin is on this list and is probably going to cringe at the rest of this post…🫣

Now, I tend to use a more loose and gentle definition of “intellectual property” than a lawyer would.

I use “IP” not to represent a legally owned asset, but rather to refer more figuratively to a synthesis or codification of the insights and know-how you’ve gained over your career.

You can create these IP assets to document your approach, share with clients and prospects, and build your unique authority in the market.

The question then comes in — ok, if I codify my expertise into a framework, course, diagram, headshot, etc., should I be taking steps to protect it legally?

A lawyer would likely say yes.

But the answer depends on your risk tolerance.

My approach:

• At the rate I put out Headshots and frameworks through The Lightbulb, LinkedIn, or any other public forum, it would be a massive expense of time and money to try to legally protect it all.
• Instead, I wordmark everything and publish it publicly as a sort of ownership timestamp
• Some of my IP falls flat and lives quietly in my archive. Which is fine.
• But other frameworks, terminology, writing, visuals really take off and have become critical, revenue-producing business assets
• It’s those critical business assets that make sense to protect legally, to keep others from taking, monetizing, and even copyrighting or trademarking them themselves.
• But, I first need some audience signal, collected over time, to know what to protect.

So, you should use your own judgement.

For me, I admittedly leave myself exposed to some risk.

Just like this entire solo path, it’s all a bit of a gamble….

But whatever you do...don't stop creating.

💡

-Wes

P.S. Feeling a summer slowdown? The IP Builder Sprint is open for July sprints.

One-on-one. Two weeks. Walk away with five 'intellectual headshots' to boost your authority, pipeline and confidence.

Check out details and dates here, or book a no-commitment call to see if it's a good fit!