Protecting Innovation: An Interview with Marcelo Dantas, CIO of Automic Group

In the fast-evolving world of technology and business solutions, safeguarding intellectual property (IP) is more critical than ever. IP doesn’t just secure a company’s innovations; it reinforces trust, fuels growth, and establishes competitive differentiation. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Marcelo Dantas, Automic’s Chief Information Officer, to delve into the strategic importance of IP, the measures taken to protect it, and the lessons learned along the way. Marcelo’s insights shed light on how Automic, a leader in registry solutions, navigates the complex intersection of innovation, collaboration, and security. 

This article is an extended interview featured in Dynamic Business 

Q: Why is intellectual property important to a company like Automic? 

Marcelo: Intellectual property is the backbone of what makes Automic unique in the market. Our proprietary solutions, like the Invana platform, represent years of innovation and dedicated effort. Protecting IP ensures that we maintain our differentiation in a highly competitive and technology-driven industry. It’s also about trust—our clients and stakeholders need to know that our solutions are secure, reliable, and exclusive to us. 

Beyond differentiation, IP protection safeguards the foundational assets that enable us to lead in the registry solutions market. Without strong measures, the risk of IP theft or misuse by competitors or external parties becomes a significant concern. This is why protecting IP isn’t just a legal or operational matter—it’s a strategic imperative. 

Q: What key steps do you take to protect intellectual property when launching a new product? 

Marcelo : Protecting IP begins long before a product reaches the market. At Automic, we follow stringent protocols to ensure our innovations are safeguarded. For example: 

• We conduct thorough supplier evaluations, ensuring all agreements include strong perpetual confidentiality clauses and clear definitions of IP ownership. These agreements often include provisions for the return or destruction of materials post-engagement. 

• Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are a must for anyone involved in the discovery or development process, protecting shared information at every stage. 

• We implement robust access controls for platforms where IP, such as source code, is stored. This includes stringent onboarding and offboarding processes and advanced security measures. 

• Our environment is actively monitored for data loss or potential IP infringement, using cutting-edge tools and processes. 

Over time, we’ve matured these practices, particularly in how we work with vendors. For example, our controls over ancillary registry services and vendor relationships have significantly evolved to ensure even greater security. 

Q: How do you balance IP protection with the need to collaborate with external partners and stakeholders? 

Marcelo : Collaboration is essential, but it must be balanced with strong IP safeguards. We’ve developed a structured approach to working with external partners: 

• We evaluate suppliers thoroughly, ensuring they have security and IP controls that meet or exceed our standards. 

• To maintain control, we often provide the platforms and devices on which external work is conducted, ensuring full auditability and secure information sharing. 

• Familiarity is key—we use systems and processes that our staff know well, streamlining collaboration and minimising risks during offboarding. 

There are occasional challenges, especially with platforms for data sharing. For instance, we only sanction SharePoint for secure collaboration and do not allow vendors to use platforms like Google Drive. This sometimes creates friction, particularly with teams like CoSec and Markets, but at the end of the day, it’s a risk mitigation exercise. 

Q: Can you share an example of a challenge related to IP protection and how your team resolved it? 

Marcelo: One instance that comes to mind involved an ambitious infrastructure and DevOps project. We partnered with a highly reputable external vendor, but to safeguard our IP, we chose not to grant them access to our existing source code. 

Instead, we clearly defined the requirements and ensured all work was developed as a new code base in a completely separate environment, using new cloud accounts. This isolation strategy ensured our existing IP remained untouched and secure. Additionally, all work was conducted on Automic laptops equipped with stringent access controls and monitoring systems. 

By retaining control over the migration and go-live processes, we minimised exposure and maintained full ownership of our IP. It was a perfect example of balancing collaboration with stringent security measures. 

Q: What’s a piece of advice that you would give to a company about their IP? 

Marcelo: My number one piece of advice is to engineer your IP protection from the start. Don’t treat it as a secondary concern or something to address later down the line. Safeguards need to be in place from day one, including: 

• Drafting robust intellectual property contracts. 

• Implementing strong controls for all platforms and processes. 

• Developing a framework that evolves as your company grows. 

It doesn’t take long to establish a secure foundation, but failing to do so can lead to significant risks down the track. 

Marcelo’s expertise highlights why IP protection is more than a legal necessity; it’s a strategic enabler for innovation and growth. As Automic continues to lead in registry solutions, its commitment to safeguarding its intellectual property remains a cornerstone of its success.