My experience is, always, intellectual property protection. When you have a piece of intellectual property & a protection, that gives you a lot more leverage.
To negotiate a market share.
To negotiate cause of production.
To also carve out your own niche.
That gives you an opportunity to slow down your competition, or to fence out the knock-offs, the copycats, or infringers.
If there is an opportunity, if there is creativity, try to file legal protection.
