4 Ways to Protect Your Intellectual Property

TM 4 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PATENTS 609,052 Patents filed with USPTO in 2013 ΤΥPES UTILITY PATENT DESIGN PATENT PLANT PATENT A Process, a Machine, New Design that ornaments a a Manufacture, a Composition of Matter, or an Improvement Asexually or sexually reproduce - able plants that are novel and non-obvious manufactured device that is nonfunctional of an Existing Idea BENEFITS BENEFITS BENEFITS Stop competitors from making, importing, selling, and using the design for 14 years. Stop competitors from making, Stop competitors for making or importing, selling, and using the profiting from the plant for 20 years. invention for 20 years. TRADEMARKS R 325,770 0 ГМ Trademarks filed with USPTO in 2013 TYPES Word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination of such Can also be a color, even the Federal Trademark registration is not required in the U.S. to have rights in a trademark layout of the Apple store TRADEMARK REGISTRATION BENEFITS Nationwide Priority Incontestability Right to Sue in Federal Court Use © Symbol Stop imports (after 5 years) COPYRIGHTS 509,112 Copyright Registrations in 2012 ΤΥPES Copyright is created immediately when a creative work is "fixed in a tangible medium". Copyright registration is not required. COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION BENEFITS Can seek statutory damages ($150,000 O$ o| in 2014 as opposed to actual damages) Right to sue in court TRADE SECRET Information with independent economic value like blueprints, chemical formulas, research and development, marketing strategies, and manufacturing processes that the owner has taken reasonable steps to keep confidential. Protected through contract and statute, for example: Economic Espionage Act (statute), covenants not to compete (contract), non-disclosure Cannot be registered Doesn't require in U.S. disclosure to the public, unlike patents. agreements (contract) SOURCES http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/us_stat.htm http://copyright.gov/reports/annual/2012/ar2012.pdf Cook & Cook This infographic is non-comprehensive and is not legal advice. Always seek the advice of a competent professional when making important financial and legal decisions. ATTORNEYS