What is a patent?
Intellectual property is not a physical possession, but that does not mean it cannot be owned. When individuals come up with ideas and new products, they want to protect their creation. It can seem difficult to protect something that isn’t a tangible item. However, there are intellectual property laws that can help with this process. With the establishment of something as your intellectual possession, individuals will not be able to use it without your permission.
A patent is basically a contract between you, the inventor of a product and the government. Through this contract, it grants the property rights for a period of 20 years from the filing date of the patent application. This term does have the ability to be adjusted. With this in place, other individuals will not be able to exploit your idea and benefit from it. It provides protection from these scenarios. In order to make, sell or use this concept, you will need to be asked for permission.
How else can I protect my IP?
If you decide to make your intellectual property a trademark, it will make you the owner. Even after registering your idea as a trademark, the process continues. The trademarked property will have to be maintained. This means that you will have to look out for someone using it without your permission. Attorneys can help monitor your domain name registration and the internet for anyone who tries to pass your trademark as their own to prevent the abuse of your property.
Copyright protection is another form of protection for your intellectual property. Through copyright protection, it grants exclusive rights to the creator or the assignee of the property to publish, perform, film, print or record the registered concept. Copyrights also need to be monitored to prevent others from abusing your property. This is when an attorney can be of use to you.
Trade secrets prove to be vital pieces of information for companies. When something is labeled as a trade secret, it should grant access to this idea only to those who are cleared to have access to this information. This may involve confidentiality agreements and policies to keep this secret out of reach so that others cannot use it for their own benefit. Licensing intellectual property proves to be a source of revenue for technology companies or other businesses. Agreements need to be made in order to allow people to use your idea in return for payment.
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.