Prevent Intellectual Property Leakage: Top Strategies for Businesses

Intellectual property (IP) is crucial to your business's value and innovation. Because of this, it often becomes a target for cyberattacks, with thousands of IP theft cases reported each year. This article explains how to prevent IP leaks and protect your valuable assets.

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, like inventions, designs, brand names, or artistic works, that are legally protected. This protection gives the creator exclusive rights to use and benefit from their work.

What is Intellectual Property Theft?

Intellectual Property (IP) theft refers to the unlawful use, reproduction, or distribution of someone else's intellectual assets without permission. This can include anything from software IP, inventions, creative works, trade secrets and  proprietary information, depriving creators of their rightful ownership that can result in significant financial and reputational harm.

The Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property says IP theft in the US could be costing us between $225 billion to $600 billion every year. With numbers like these, it's clear businesses need to step up to protect their IP.

What is Intellectual-Property Leakage in Terms of Source Code?

Source code is the human-readable instruction that is written by software developers to create computer programs. It's basically the blueprint that defines how a software application functions.

For example, let's say a software company develops a popular mobile game. The source code for the game contains all the instructions about how it operates, its UI/UX, etc. If someone gains unauthorized access to this source code and reproduces it to create a similar game, it would be a form of intellectual property leakage. 

What are the Risks of a Source Code Leak?

If the source code leaks, it can cause several problems:

1. Hackers can exploit app vulnerabilities
2. Customer data may be compromised
3. Employees face identity theft risks
4. Legal issues can arise
5. Competitors could steal important information if they get hold of the source code
   
   

4 Main Types of Intellectual Property Theft

Let’s explore the four main types of intellectual property theft: 

1. Patent Infringement: This is when someone uses, makes, or sells a patented invention without permission. It leads to legal action to protect the inventor's rights.
2. Copyright Infringement: It happens when someone uses, copies, or shares copyrighted material like books or music without permission. It can land them in legal trouble.
3. Trademark Infringement: This occurs when someone uses a logo or slogan that's too similar to a registered trademark. It can confuse customers and damage the trademark owner's reputation.
4. Trade Secret Misappropriation: This is when someone leaks or steals confidential business information like secret formulae or customer lists. It's done to gain an unfair advantage in the market.

Key Insights: 4 Historical Business IP Theft

1. Xerox and Apple: In the 1970s, Xerox developed groundbreaking tech like the graphical user interface and mouse. However, Apple adopted these innovations without permission, sparking legal battles over intellectual property rights.
2. Samsung and Apple: In the smartphone arena, Apple accused Samsung of mimicking its design, including features like rounded corners and grid layouts. This led to a lengthy legal showdown over who owned these design elements.
3. Google and Oracle: Oracle took Google to court over the use of Java in its Android OS, raising questions about fair use and software interface protection.
4. Uber and Waymo: Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., alleged that Uber stole its self-driving car technology secrets. The dispute ended with Uber agreeing to pay Waymo $245 million in equity in 2018.

How to Protect Intellectual Property?

For CISOs, where their IP is the key to success, understanding the threat of theft isn't just a duty — it's essential for survival and progress. Below are the minimum steps you should take to keep your IP secure.

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

ZTNA makes sure that access to valuable IP is tightly regulated, no matter where or how users connect. Whether someone's working from home or logging in from an outside network, ZTNA checks their identity, device, and other details before letting them access sensitive resources.

Checking identity means only the right people can get to the IP, keeping out unauthorized users. Making sure devices are healthy ensures only safe and properly set-up gadgets can connect, lowering the risk of hacked devices. Contextual info, like what the user does and where they are, adds extra layers of security, ensuring access is given only to those who really need it.

Encryption

Utilize advanced encryption techniques to safeguard your intellectual property. Encrypt data both in transit and at rest. For example, use AES-256 encryption for data storage and TLS for data transmission. This ensures that even if unauthorized parties access your data, they cannot decipher it without the encryption key.

Access Controls

Access controls are super important for keeping intellectual property safe. This means only letting authorized users get in. We do this by using strict methods like making sure users are who they say they are, assigning access based on their roles, and managing privileges based on what they need to do their jobs. 

With these steps, we make sure only the right people can get to our sensitive IP, cutting down on the chances of it being stolen or exposed to unauthorized eyes.

Non-disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

Require employees, contractors, and business partners to sign NDAs to protect confidential information and trade secrets. NDAs legally bind parties to maintain confidentiality and prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of intellectual property.

Regular Audits and Monitoring

This involves routine reviews of systems, networks, and access logs to identify any unauthorized access or suspicious behavior. By staying vigilant, we can detect security incidents in real-time and take swift action to mitigate risks. 

This proactive approach ensures the integrity of our intellectual property assets and allows us to continually improve our security measures for stronger protection.

Employee Training and Awareness

Make sure your team understands why protecting intellectual property is crucial and teach them the best ways to keep it safe. Give them training on handling sensitive info, spotting phishing emails, and knowing what to do if they suspect a security problem. This helps everyone stay alert and ready to keep our data secure.

Immediate Actions to Take if Source Code Leaks

Contain the Leak: Identify and isolate the source of the leak to prevent further exposure.

Change Access Credentials: Update all passwords, API keys, and other access credentials to limit unauthorized access.

Inform Stakeholders: Notify your team, management, and any affected partners or clients about the breach.

Conduct a Security Audit: Perform a thorough review of your systems to identify vulnerabilities and ensure no additional data has been compromised.

Consult Legal Counsel: Seek advice from legal professionals to understand your rights and obligations, and to plan potential legal actions if necessary.

What Should I Do If Source Code Leaks?

In conclusion, protecting your intellectual property from leakage is critical to maintaining your competitive edge and safeguarding your business's future. By implementing the strategies discussed, you can significantly reduce the risk of IP theft. For more information and expert guidance, contact PureDome today and explore our advanced security solutions.