Intellectual Property Rights
While the concept of intellectual property is a bit daunting, the Barron Law Office attorneys have a way of explaining it to clients that highlights the key essence of it. In a nutshell, intellectual property rights provide legal rights over creations of the mind.
Conceptions of the mind include artistic and commercial creations. While this still may sound a bit “vague”, it really just boils down to the fact that intellectual property law gives owners of various “creations” certain exclusive rights – rights to intangible assets and in addition, a financial monopoly on any profits from such creations.
There are a variety of areas of intellectual property rights, which you may recognize by name, but were not aware of being part and parcel of a “group” of rights. Those areas include trade secrets, industrial design rights, trademarks, copyrights and patents. Without going into great detail, it would be helpful for you to know the basics of some of the more common intellectual property rights.
Most people do understand that copyright protects things such as books, software, paintings, music, pictures and movies. Those rights may be for up to 100 years, at which point they are in the public domain.
A trademark is usually something (such as a sign) identifying a product or service from a unique source. This sign distinguishes it from other competitors. Trademarks generally have a name, image, design, symbol, logo, phrase, word or a combination of those things to make it distinctive.
While the term patent might bring a mad scientist to mind; patents are exclusive rights given to an inventor in exchange for bringing an invention from an idea to an actual product. In return for that right, they may prevent others from selling, making or using their invention. This is usually a 20-year protection.
Industrial Design rights protect visual design objects and rights last for 14 years.
Trade secrets are often the subject of thrilling spy movies and in reality some of those spy like elements do exist in this highly competitive arena. A trade secret is a design, process, practice, pattern, formula or a mass of information not generally known or obtainable by other competitors.
If you have a “great” idea in any of these areas, pay a visit to the Barron Law Office and discuss the legal ramifications of getting it registered. If you have a patent, copyright or trademark infringement on your hands, or other legal issues with regard to your intellectual property, make it a point to call our offices for a consultation. We are at your service.