COPYRIGHT, IP & TRADEMARK - The Laws of Protecting Ideas

Any person or company with a unique idea, product, business plan, or logo will need to become familiar with the laws of protecting their creation. Intellectual property (IP) law is designed to protect unique ideas by providing copyrights or trademarks to creators. Any person or entity responsible for a creative intellectual contribution should work with an IP attorney to find the best way to protect their ideas and work.

IP Law

The law protecting intellectual property (IP) is so named because it endows property like rights to creators, discovers, or inventors whose work results in a unique contribution to the world. IP law grants these individuals exclusive rights over the use of their idea(s), and allows only the creators, discoverers, or inventors the sole right to manufacture, distribute, or otherwise use their work. The laws can, and often do, prevent other parties from profiting from their intellectual pursuits and contributions. IP law encompasses copyright and trademark law, amongst other areas. Any person who has created, discovered, or invented an original concept, should work with an IP lawyer to protect their efforts.

Copyright Law

Copyright law is designed to provide creators exclusive rights over their original work and covers a variety of artistic and creative output such as books, music, plays, paintings, photographs, sound recordings, movies, and computer programs; however, the law does not protect an idea. It does protect the expressive manifestation of that idea from improper use. If you have created a unique and original work, you should contact an experienced copyright attorney to ensure you have exclusive rights over it.

Trademark Law

A trademark is a distinctive sign or symbol used by a person, company, or superhero that causes the general public to instantly recognize the entity the mark represents, and what services that entity provides. This area of law was created to protect a distinctive mark by ensuring the mark remains unique enough to prevent confusion when seen by others. Trademark law directs the registration of all unique marks, and it provides remedies for those whose mark has been copied either in full or substantial part in a manner that compromises the uniqueness of it. Any entity that intends to use a public mark to represent themselves and the services they offer should work with a trademark attorney to protect their symbol.