Local Law Firms Home > Business Law Overview > Intellectual Property Intellectual property (IP) rights safeguard the intangible assets created by or in possession of an individual or a business. Normal property laws do not apply because these are things that cannot be physically possessed. As such, the most common form of protection offered to intellectual property is the right of exclusive use and sole authority to allow reproduction or other forms of usage as specified by the owner or creator. Would you like to know more about the laws surrounding intellectual property and businesses? Our business lawyers can help. Contact a business law attorney near you today for more information. Legal issues that may arise with regards to intellectual property are listed below:
Copyright protection does not require any legal registration. It simply requires the work to be original and in available in some recorded form which can be in writing or printed or digital form. Patents and trademarks have to be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The trademark grants the registrant sole authority to use the associated brand name and logos. The patent allows the registrant an exclusive right to manufacture, sell and license the product, process or invention specified in the patent registration. Trade secrets and proprietary data are part of the IP assets of a business, and the risk associated with the theft or loss of these properties can be covered by IP insurance. Do you have legal questions regarding intellectual property and business law? Our business law attorneys can help. Contact a business lawyer in your area today to learn more about how you can receive legal representation regarding intellectual property and your business. Did you know? You can get employees to sign a non-compete clause (NCC) to protect your intellectual property. Having employees agree to an NCC as a part of their contract is standard procedure these days. It prevents former employees from taking and using trade secrets to start up their own business or help competitors. |