Intellectual property protection is critical for young entrepreneurs. The IPR protection is important because it protects creativity and prevents competitors from imitating products and services.

This WebQuest is focused on how to use the links and information provided in the useful links section in order to design your own business idea, and to explore the differences and uses of the four main categories of intellectual property rights (IPR) in order to select the best protection mean for your invention.

Step 1: Team up!
In order to perform the task, you will be divided into 5 teams:

• Group 1: Entrepreneurs – invention generators
• Group 2: Patent office – this group will research the form of IP “Patent”
• Group 3: Industrial design office - this group will research the form of IP “Industrial design”
• Group 4: Trademark office - this group will research the form of IP “Trademark”
• Group 5: Copyright office - this group will research the form of IP “Copyright”

We recommend working in teams of 1 to 3 people, depending on the overall number of people in the group. If the group is bigger than 15 people or smaller than 10, then create balanced teams, meaning having equal number of people in each of the five teams.


Step 2 for Groups 2, 3, 4 & 5 – “Research!”
Meanwhile, each of the IPR teams will have to develop an understanding of the respective topic they chose - patents, industrial design, trademarks or copyright by making use of the links presented in the Useful links section (and other sources if needed). The research should cover the following questions:

• Group 2 “Patent office”: What is a patent?; How to acquire a patent?; What kind of inventions does the patent protect?; How much does it cost to register a patent?; How can I search for patents that have already been registered?; How long does patent protection last?; What are the main advantages of issuing a patent?
• Group 3 “Industrial design office”: What is an industrial design?; How to register it?; What kind of protection does an industrial design offer?; How much does it cost to register an industrial design?; How long does industrial design protection last?; How can I search for industrial designs that have already been registered?; What are the advantages of an industrial design?
• Group 4 “Trademark office”: What is a trademark?; How to get it?; What kind of protection does a trademark offer?; How much does it cost to register it?; How can I search for trademark that have already been registered?; How long does trademark protection last?; What are the advantages of a trademark?
• Group 5 “Copyright office”: What is a copyright?; Can I register copyright?; What kind of protection does a copyright offer?; How to get it?; What rights does copyright give me?; What are my rights as an author of a work?; How long does copyright protection last?; What are the advantages of a copyright?
  
  Each IPR group needs to use a A4 paper sheet to summarize and write down their main discoveries.

Step 3 for Group 1 – “Create your invention and make a presentation”
After finishing your in-depth research and ensuring that all your group members have fully understood entrepreneurship ideas nature, think about creating your own invention. Together, as a group, you should decide what kind of invention (product, services, method, artistic works, etc.) you would like to develop and then present. Discuss the field in which your entrepreneurship idea will take place. How could your invention help the world? Who will be the main users?  How will it be designed, promoted and used? What will its main advantages be?

Using the brainstorming technique (see the useful links and videos section), you should come up with an invention idea. Afterwards, based on the invention’s nature, prepare a short presentation of it. You could use paper sheets, multimedia (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.), drawings or any other tools you find appropriate to carry out the task. Your main job here is to be creative! Enjoy and have fun! :-)

Step 3 for Groups 2, 3, 4 & 5 – “Establish your IPR office and make a presentation”
From the information you gathered during the research phase, your group needs to prepare a short presentation of the IPR office you represent. Your presentation should include pictures/videos, key information and milestones you discovered while answering the questions in Step 2.  Using the brainstorming technique (see the useful links and videos section), together, you should decide how to design your group presentation. You can use paper sheets, multimedia (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.), and any other tools you find relevant (see the useful links and videos section for some inspirations).
Your main job here is to be creative! Enjoy and have fun! :-)


Step 4 for Groups 2, 3, 4 & 5 – “Present your IPR office!”
At this stage, each IPR team will have 10 to 15 minutes to present their office to the other teams in the group. The objective for each team is to be attractive and to point out the importance, possible applications and advantages of the respective IPR tool that they have researched in the previous steps.

Step 4 for Group 1 – “Present your invention and choose the best protection for it”
At this final stage, your group (the Entrepreneurs group) is expected to present your invention in front of the other teams. 
Then, after finishing the presentation, your team will have 10 minutes to discuss and decide which of the four presented IPR tools will ensure best protection for your invention, taking into account its nature and characteristics.
Finally, all participants are invited to discuss if the chosen IPR office/s is/are the right one/s and why.

After the completion of this WebQuest, learners:

Knowledge (will have....)	Skills (will be able to...)	Attitudes (will be able to...)
- fundamental knowledge on what entrepreneurial ideas are; - factual knowledge on what inventions are; - factual knowledge of how to develop successful entrepreneurial businesses; - factual knowledge on the main intellectual property rights – patent, industrial design, trademark, copyright. - practical knowledge of how to prepare a presentation and apply different presentation techniques; - practical knowledge of discussion methods, idea generation techniques and brainstorming technique.	- use research skills to conduct research in online environments to complete a task; - research, gather, analyze and systematize information; - use presentation skills to present in front of audience; - take part in group interactions and teamwork; - use the gathered information to develop a presentation; - select an IPR mechanism that protects the new invention.	- demonstrate ability to gather, discuss, analyze, and synthesize information in order to complete the task; - contribute to achieving the team’s goal; demonstrate knowledge and confidence to choose an IPR tool that suits the invention

“Maybe you’re a creator with a new invention, someone with a name or brand to protect or even a person who’s thought outside of the box and discovered a better way to do something. In today’s world of creators striving for great ideas and how to protect those ideas, you need to be proactive and step up. IPR protection is important because it protects creativity and prevents competitors from imitating products and services. Startups need to think about IP rights from the beginning.” Linda Sue Park, A single Shard

One thing is sure – young entrepreneurs will always be “inspired” by other people’s work, and this quote from Linda seas it all – it is very important to protect your idea right from the beginning. Invest the necessary time and find the most suitable IPR protection for your invention, because successful ideas are protected ideas!