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StartupHR — How Can I Protect My Idea?

Vircon Legal — Events

On January 2, 2019, in an interview with StartupHR, our Managing Partner Erdem Mümtaz Hacıpaşaoğlu walked through what intellectual property practically means for founders — through the question “How can I protect my idea?”

The central thesis of the interview was clear: “an idea” is not, on its own, legally protectable; what is protected is the idea once it has been concretized — trademark, patent, copyright, trade secret and other IP tools can protect different layers of the same project.

IP tools

Trademark, patent, copyright, utility model, industrial design and trade secret — when each one comes into play was illustrated with concrete venture examples.

Practical steps for founders

How the founder should take steps such as trademark application, founders’ IP transfer, ownership of source code and data within the first six months was laid out.

Highlights from this interview

  • IP tools: Trademark, patent, copyright, trade secret
  • Steps: Trademark filing, founders’ IP transfer
  • Practitioner view: What to do in the first six months

You can watch the interview on YouTube.

Author

  • Erdem Mümtaz Hacıpaşaoğlu

    Mümtaz is the Managing Partner of Vircon Legal, which he founded in 2016. He advises founders, investors and operators on financing rounds, M&A, cross-border incorporations and regulated verticals such as crypto-asset infrastructure, fintech and games, bringing a former startup founder's perspective to every engagement.

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Published: 2 January 2019 · last updated: 12 June 2026
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and practices may have changed since the publication date. For specific situations, please consult Vircon Legal.
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