Intellectual property is a cornerstone of American trade and business. When you create an idea, product, or piece of art, intellectual property law allows you to protect it and claim your work as your own. Without this ability, others could steal your work, and you would have no grounds to recover what you created.
Intellectual property is a large category of the legal system, but it is easily misunderstood. Whether you are an entrepreneur, designer, artist, or business employee, it is important to know how to navigate intellectual property. This understanding can help you to protect your ideas and ensure your business benefits from them.
Four Types of Intellectual Property
All types of intellectual property can be sorted into four main categories. These categories have different rights and protections, so you want to be sure your intellectual property is placed under the right umbrella. You may need more than one intellectual property protection for your business, depending on what you do and what you would like to achieve.
When you understand the four categories of intellectual property, you become empowered to make informed decisions about your business and can fully protect what is yours.
Copyright
One of the most commonly understood types of intellectual property protection is copyright. This category is also fairly broad. For the most part, copyrights can protect words and texts such as books, internet content, and other items. However, copyrights can also protect things like computer software, audio-visual creations, and more. If you own your own business, at least part of it would likely benefit from official copyright protection.
For example, most books have a copyright placed on them. This keeps others from reprinting the book for their own financial gain and ensures the author of the book gets a fair portion of all published copies of the text.
Trademarks
Trademarks are also very common. However, unlike copyrights, trademarks often deal with visuals like logos, designs, etc. You can also protect your product’s packaging design with a trademark. Many companies can benefit from trademark protection.
Trademarks can be protected in a state or nationally. If you run a small store or company that primarily serves in-state clients, a national trademark is probably not necessary for you. However, if you serve several states or provide services across the United States or around the world, a national trademark is going to be best to protect your business.
For example, McDonald’s golden “M” is a famous example of a trademarked logo. Other companies cannot use this logo, or logos that are similar to it, to represent their brand. By trademarking its logo, McDonald’s maintains brand recognition.
Patents
Many businesses benefit from a patent portfolio to protect any machinery, tools, products, or processes that they have developed for their own use. With a patent, you can benefit financially from licensing agreements, and you can create barriers to entry for your competition. Both of these give you an advantage in your market and can help to increase your company’s overall success. While other intellectual property protections can prevent others from stealing your business’s unique branding and content, patents can keep other companies from entering the industry at all. This keeps your business on top and in charge of what you do.
For instance, if you run a manufacturing company and create a new machine part that increases output while minimizing waste, you could patent that piece for your own use. This way, either no one else will have the part, and your business will thrive. If another company wants to use the part for themselves, they’ll have to pay you. Either way, you have the advantage.
Trade Secrets
Trade secret protections help to ensure any important company information is kept in the right hands. Over time, employees and contractors gain access to the inner workings of your company. To keep them from disclosing this information outside the company, trade secrets can be placed on your most important business workings and documents. This helps to keep your company information private and ensure competitors do not steal your processes.
For example, KFC has a signature seasoning that is considered to be one of the world’s biggest trade secrets. Though many have guessed what the seasoning may include, few people know what it is. Those who do know the recipe are sworn to secrecy through trade secret protections like nondisclosure agreements.
Orange County Intellectual Property Attorneys
It is important to hire an attorney or team of legal experts to help you with your intellectual property protections. Without legal help, you might make errors in your documents that end up voiding them. This leaves your company vulnerable and renders your protection ineffective.
When you work with an Orange County intellectual property attorney, you can be sure your intellectual property is properly protected. An attorney can walk through all of the steps with you and make sure your company has all the protection necessary to thrive in your market.
As you work with your intellectual property attorney, you can collaborate to decide what kinds of protections are right for you. Some forms of intellectual property protection may not benefit your company, while others will. We can help you to determine the best way to proceed, and we’ll help to walk you through the process. This way, your intellectual property protections are tailored to your needs, and you know that all forms and documentation are filed correctly.
Contact The Myers Law Group
Our team at the Myers Law Group has been practicing intellectual property law in Orange County for many years. We understand what you need to properly file for a patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret. We can help you through the process and support you through any roadblocks or unexpected challenges you experience along the way. If someone violates your intellectual property agreement, we are here to help you take legal action and gain compensation for what was stolen from you. No other Orange County intellectual property law firm offers such a wide range of services.
For more information, contact The Myers Law Group online today.