Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property
Trademark Protection for Product Shapes and Containers
American law has long granted trademark protection to the shapes of products and containers. Perhaps the most famous example is the instantly recognizable Coca-Cola bottle, which is almost as important a trademark as the soft drink company’s stylized name logo (Trademark protection for the product shapes and containers should not be confused with the safeguards […]
Intellectual Property
Keep the Barn Door Closed
You probably spend a great deal of time and money developing unique ideas, products, and services. But the more people who know about your plans, the more you risk losing your secrets. To help protect intellectual property — your vital assets — it’s important to require confidentiality agreements. Sometimes referred to as non-disclosure agreements, confidentiality […]
Intellectual Property
Giving Away Patents With Strings Attached
Gifts of intellectual property to a qualified charity are generally tax deductible. But can you deduct a charitable donation of a patent if the gift comes with certain built-in restrictions? It depends. A ruling from the IRS answers the question in three different gift-giving scenarios that have strings attached. When is this Ruling Applicable? […]
Intellectual Property
QUIZ on TRADEMARKS
The answer is B. Sounds can be registered as trademarks in the United States. For example, the familiar three-tone chime of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has been registered. Other well-known sound trademarks include the lion’s roar of MGM, the Harlem Globetrotter’s theme song, “Sweet Georgia Brown,” and the spoken words AT&T accompanied by music. However, […]
Intellectual Property
Guarding Information that Gives a Competitive Advantage
Your company probably has security systems in place to prevent theft of computers, machines and products, yet you may not be doing enough to safeguard your customer lists, new product designs and marketing strategies. High-tech firms and manufacturers are prime targets of intellectual property theft but many other types of companies can become victims. Businesses […]
Intellectual Property
Protect Trade Secrets From Insider Theft
Many companies are concerned about intellectual property being stolen by computer hackers and outsiders coming onto their premises. While these are certainly legitimate concerns, it’s generally more important to focus on insiders — your own staff members, former employees, on-site contractors and partners. Theft of trade secrets is often an inside job, as illustrated by […]
Intellectual Property
Seek Global Trademark Protection Under the Madrid Protocol
An international treaty called the Madrid Protocol makes it much easier for Americans to obtain international protection for their trademarks. It allows a trademark owner to seek registration in any of the participating countries by filing a single application, called an “international application.” The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is located […]
Intellectual Property
Patents Versus Trade Secrets
Let’s say you or your company has come up with a blockbuster innovation and you’re planning to market it. But you want legal protection so your invention won’t be stolen. There are two primary ways to protect your potential moneymaker: A trade secret or a patent. Patent Standards Does your invention meet these four high standards […]
Intellectual Property