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Schedule a Call3 Top Corporate Legal Needs for Protecting Intellectual Property
by A Step Above Legal Solutions | Oct 2, 2022 | Legal Needs
A Step Above Legal Solutions
The modern business world is a free flow of information– everything is on the internet. And it’s easy to get caught infringing the intellectual property rights of others accidentally or to be taken advantage of yourself. Whether your company sells digital, physical, or intellectual products, you must protect what and how you sell. So, it’s essential for business owners to have a basic understanding of intellectual property (IP) law.
Three Forms of IP Law
You are undoubtedly familiar with “trademark,” “copyright,” and “patent,” but do you know what makes them different? Few business owners do! Let’s clarify a few terms:
- Patents:
Patents grant the registrant exclusive rights over a new invention for a set period. This includes products and processes (trade secrets). - Trademarks:
Trademarks track and protect the original creator or source of something. Logos and product names are often trademarked to protect clear (and successful) branding. - Copyright:
Copyrights cover written work, designs, and artwork. These all fall under creative pieces.
Patents
Patents protect inventions for a defined period so the inventor can enjoy exclusive rights. Otherwise, the market would quickly flood with knock-offs or undercuts, disincentivizing the investment to create new things. There is also the option to file for patent protection worldwide. There are several type of patents one can file. Depending on what you are looking to protect, you can choose
Design Patent or Utility Patent
Trademark
No matter your company size or industry, you will likely need legal assistance with a trademark or two. You may also find yourself in a lawsuit for trademark infringement
Typical situations for needing legal assistance include determining what to trademark (logo or other company information) and registering that trademark. It can be a long process to file for a trademark with the USPTO, so having someone who knows what they are doing is essential.
Copyright
Copyrighting laws protect creative work, like design work in architecture, machinery, fashion, and apps. It can also include written work published in books, articles, magazines, and online. For small businesses with a small staff, copyright infringement can be very easy, particularly in marketing materials. For example, you cannot simply use any stock image you find online safely– many images are protected by copyright.
You also want to ensure you’ve copyrighted any of your own original words and design work, so your work isn’t used by others for their profit unfairly.
Need Help?
Big corporate offices often have on-staff lawyers and paralegals– but not all companies can afford that kind of help. That’s why we created A Step Above Legal Solutions
We’re a coalition of experienced paralegals in IP and work as freelancers. That means we’re here when you need us– getting that trademark, checking to ensure your trademarks aren’t infringed and helping you get your patent applications filed. Contact us today for a free consultation. Our specializations will help you clear your docket and move on to more essential work.