“I’d love to create a certification program but I’m worried about protecting my IP”
This is a common concern folks have when considering the certification model – and rightly so! It feels deeply risky to let other people use your IP.
But when done correctly – a certification is one of the best ways to protect your IP. And your brand.
I dare say without certification your IP is more at risk. Even when you’ve taken legal measures to protect it. (Say what?)
When you’ve created IP that works – people want to use it.
Be it in the form of a book you’ve written to share your methodology. Or a coaching program that follows a curriculum based on your signature system. You may be delivering speaking or training on your hard earned years of experience and expertise.
If you don’t give folks a way to use your IP legitimately – they may start using it in ways that you don’t approve of or that aren’t accurate to your work.
I had a colleague come to me recently who was feeling frustrated with some of the folks who had read her book.
“People are taking the concepts from my book and using it in their own programs. Not only am I frustrated by the fact I’m not getting paid for this, but they aren’t doing it right either.”
“Great” I said to her, “this is shining a light on a big opportunity for you”
That opportunity being certification.
When you offer certification alongside your IP – your methodologies, frameworks and signature systems – you are giving folks a container in which to use it correctly and legitimately. And you get to set clear agreements and terms.
So when they read your book and think “wow, I love this so much I want to share it with my clients” or take your program and say “this has worked so well for me – so many more people need this” there is a legit path for them to do so.
Vs them going rogue and doing who knows what with your stuff, which can lead into some sticky situations and potential legal action.
The certification model gives you control over how people use your IP. In a way that benefits both you and them.
To be clear, I am all for getting the necessary legal protections in place as well. Copyrights, trademarks and such are essential parts of your IP protection plan.
And you certainly may decide to keep your IP to yourself. Certification is not the path for everyone, and hey – it’s our stuff so we get to decide.
But if you find yourself in a position where people are asking to use your stuff – or are maybe doing so already without your permission – then harnessing that desire into a certification can be one of the best protective measures you can take.
It honors your IP and all the hard work you put into creating it. 
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