You May Need an Intellectual Property Lawyer and Not Know It

Intellectual property includes creations that are unique and provide an economic benefit. Some examples of intellectual property include: • Designs • Inventions • Original written works • Trade secrets Protecting intellectual property is essential to business success, and different types of intellectual property are covered by different laws. Speak with an intellectual property attorney to find out how to preserve your economic interests by protecting your intellectual property. Patents If your business creates a product, process, or method that is unique and economically beneficial, you want to keep enjoying the competitive advantage that your product or process confers, and you can do so by patenting it. If you hold the patent to a product or method, you can stop others from using your process or making your invention for a certain number of years. Obtaining a patent is complex, and working with an intellectual property lawyer is highly advisable. Copyrights Copyrights provide protection for original musical, literary, and dramatic works, plus audio recordings, video recordings, and other types of creative works in a tangible medium. Using the copyright symbol should be standard practice for authors of creative works. You do not have to file for copyright protection, but doing so will make it easier to enforce your copyright should a legal challenge arise. Trademarks When you trademark your product, you prevent other businesses from selling something with the same name. For example, you cannot create a product and start calling it "Coca Cola." Trademark law protects you from unfair business practices and protects consumers from being deceived or confused. If your business sells a service rather than a product, you may obtain a servicemark instead of a trademark. An intellectual property attorney can help you register your trademark or servicemark. Software Patents and Copyrights Software is subject to both copyright and patent protection. Obtaining a patent for software is timely and expensive, but provides broader rights to the patent holder. Obtaining a copyright is easier, but the software protection under copyright law is narrower. Work with an attorney specializing in intellectual property to determine which course of action is best for your situation.