How Can I Protect My Intellectual Property in New Jersey?
When people come up with ideas that have the potential to make them or their company money, they usually want to protect them. This can ensure their rights as well as prohibit others from using it for profit. Even though intellectual property is not a physical property, it can still be protected in a variety of ways. This can be done through a patent, trademark, copyright, and more. Through these different methods, the idea can be established as their own through legal possession. Continue reading below to learn more about each and contact an experienced New Jersey intellectual property attorney for guidance.
What is a Patent?
Simply put, a patent is a contract between a creator and the government. This grants them property rights to the patent for 20 years from the date of filing the patent application. There are three different types of patents available to a person: utility patents, design patents, and plant patents.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a symbol or word/phrase that is legally registered with the government. This is done to represent a company or a product. To obtain a trademark, the owner of the idea is required to file paperwork with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This can give them national coverage of the symbol or words if it is not opposed by the office.
What is Copyright?
Another form of protection is copyright. This is given to individuals for both published and unpublished original works. When a person receives copyright protection for their idea, they can grant rights to print, publish, perform, film or record it.
What is a Licensing Agreement?
It is possible for a person with legal ownership of a concept to allow others to use it in order to make a further profit. This can be done through a licensing agreement. With this, the owner allows others to use, market, manufacture, distribute or sell their work under the agreement that they are compensated for it.
Contact our Firm
The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC has over 25 years of experience helping clients through tough times when they need it most. If you need assistance with any intellectual property, traffic violations, or business law matters, our firm is here to help. It is critical that you pick the right attorney who can protect your rights. Contact The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC for a consultation.