Introduction

Your business runs on more than systems and data it runs on ideas.
Designs, source code, reports, creative assets they’re all intellectual property (IP) that define your competitive edge.

But here’s the catch: if those assets aren’t properly protected or respected, you’re one click away from losing your innovation or facing a costly legal battle.

That’s why ISO 27001 Control 5.39 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) exists.
It ensures organizations protect their own intellectual property and respect the rights of others.

Because safeguarding innovation isn’t just about firewalls it’s about ethics, ownership, and compliance.

Why This Control Matters

IP isn’t limited to big corporations every organization creates intellectual property every day.
From internal training content to software code, your IP is what makes your organization unique and valuable.

Losing control of it, or unintentionally violating someone else’s, can lead to:
🚫 Legal action
🚫 Financial penalties
🚫 Reputational damage

Control 5.39, defined in ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Section 5.39, is an Organizational control that’s both preventive and corrective, supporting Integrity, Accountability, and Compliance through the Protect and Comply cybersecurity concepts.

What This Control Looks Like in Practice

1. Identify and Classify Intellectual Property

Know what IP your organization owns (logos, patents, code, designs, documentation, etc.).

2. Protect Ownership Rights

Use legal protections (patents, trademarks, copyrights) and internal policies.

3. Respect Third-Party IP

Track software licenses, open-source use, and vendor agreements.

4. Educate Employees

Train staff on how to handle intellectual property properly both yours and others’.

5. Monitor and Enforce

Periodically review IP compliance, especially in creative, technical, or R&D teams.

Common Pitfalls

🚫 Using unlicensed software or assets without attribution
🚫 No documentation of ownership for internally developed content or code
🚫 Failing to protect innovations created by contractors or partners
🚫 Overlooking IP in mergers, acquisitions, or collaborations

Canadian Cyber’s Take

At Canadian Cyber, we’ve seen how weak IP management can quietly become a major business risk.

We help organizations build information security policies that include IP governance, ensuring your data protection efforts extend to creative and proprietary assets.

We also help teams manage software licensing, copyright compliance, and IP clauses in supplier or client contracts turning compliance into a competitive advantage.

Because in a knowledge-driven world, your ideas are your most valuable assets.

Takeaway

Protecting intellectual property isn’t just a legal formality it’s part of your security posture.

ISO 27001 Control 5.39 ensures your organization treats ideas, designs, and code with the same care as servers and data.

Innovation thrives when it’s secure.

How Canadian Cyber Can Help

At Canadian Cyber, we provide:

ISO 27001 and ISO 27001 Implementation Support

Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)

ISO 27018 Cloud Privacy Guidance

Internal Audit and Readiness Reviews

👉 Ready to strengthen privacy within your ISMS? Book a free consultation here.

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