Intellectual Property
Protect your work from copycats. Learn the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents so you can safeguard your intellectual property.
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How to Talk About Your Nonpatented Invention Without Having Your Idea Stolen
Until you've filed your application with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, you should be extra careful about who you talk to and how you share your ideas.
· 4 min read
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Registering Green Trademarks
While the USPTO is actively encouraging the development of 'green' technology, green trademark and patent seekers should be well-informed going into the process to increase the probability of success—because it's not enough to just have a catchy 'green' name anymore.
· 5 min read
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The State of the 'Fair Use' Defense in the Art World
The great French Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin once said, 'Art is either plagiarism or revolution.' More than 100 years later, this statement is still up for debate among artists, some of whose work is being found to infringe others' copyrights.
· 4 min read
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Get the Most from Your Provisional Application for Patent
You've got an invention, but what an ordeal just to get it to 'patent pending' status. The reality is, filing a provisional application for patent is not as confusing or as intimidating as people think—especially if you know what to expect.
· 5 min read
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Who Owns the Rights to Your Life Story?
An unknown, down on his luck fighter gets a shot at the big time against the reigning, legendary champ. Although the endearing underdog eventually loses by technical knockout, he dances toe-to-toe with the champ for 15 rounds, even knocking down one of the greatest pugilists ever along the way.
· 5 min read
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The Copyright Commons: Works in the Public Domain
Many of us have looked at a piece of art, watched a movie, or listened to a popular song and thought of using it to create something new. Well…can you?
· 4 min read
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Taking Your Trademark Overseas
With the Internet and globalization making the world smaller, businesses are increasingly expanding overseas—and that means they need to protect their trademarks outside the U.S. Doing business in other countries? See how you can get trademark protection.
· 4 min read
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Developing an IP Strategy
Protecting your invention, logo or creative work with a patent, trademark or copyright is important. But equally important is creating an IP strategy.
· 5 min read
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Recapturing Copyrights: A Second Chance at Royalties
Many of the world's most famous musicians are getting a second chance at controlling their creations. Musicians like Bob Dylan and Eagles, might have their copyrights returned to the original artists. How this will ultimately affect the music industry remains to be seen.
· 3 min read
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Court Confirms Architectural Drawings Protected by Copyright
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of “original works of authorship” fixed in a tangible medium of expression. The U.S. Copyright Act identifies several categories of copyrightable works, including literary works, musical works, motion pictures, and other audiovisual works, and pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.
· 3 min read
