Nevada Patent Lawyer
Patent, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets laws are legal protections for intellectual property, i.e. creations of the mind. “Intellectual property” refers to intangible assets such as music, writings, inventions, phrases, words, designs, symbols…even sounds and colors can be legally protected. An innovator, or creator, has exclusive rights to his or her intellectual property; thus, others can be excluded from its use; or, use can be licensed.
Intellectual property laws were created to encourage innovation and the commitment of time and resources to the development of new technologies, art and writings.
Patents
Have you ever said, “Somebody should invent xyz” or “I should patent that”? What type of patent would you need? There are three types of patents: utility, design, and plant.
Utility patents are the most common, with 90% of all patents being issued for new inventions or improvements on existing inventions. Examples are new LED technology for flat screen televisions, a new medical instrument used for surgery and the microwave oven.
Design patents are granted for new designs, such as designer eyeglasses, the look of Star Wars characters and designer handbags. These products have new designs, not new functions.
Plant patents are granted for newly invented or newly discovered asexually reproduced plants such as a new daisy, maple tree, or carrot.
Copyrights
Pick up any book, magazine, board game instructions, or computer software and you’ll see the familiar copyright icon (©.) Artists, composers, programmers and writers protect their original works with copyrights.
Plays, books, poetry, songs, catalogs, computer software, drawings, sculptures, board games, maps, prints, movies, labels, advertisements and recordings all receive copyright protections.
Trademarks
When you drive to work or the market, you likely see thousands of trademarks. On your next drive, or while you’re watching television, look for distinctive words, symbols, phrases, or designs that identify a service or product.
Examples are Nike’s marketing phrase, “Just Do It;” the NBC chimes; the NBC peacock; Mickey Mouse; the words, “Formica,” “Crock-pot” and “Kleenex; the shape of Coke bottles; and the color pink of Owens Corning insulation.
Trade Secrets
Have you ever wished that you had the KFC secret recipe? Extra crispy or original? Colonel Sanders’ recipe is a trade secret. The recipe for the Coke you wash that extra crispy chicken down with is also a trade secret.
A trade secret is a recipe, formula, process, device, information, technique, design, or composition that provides its owner a business advantage, and is, generally, not known.
Intellectual Property FAQs
Will the patent and trademark office enforce my patent? All innovators wish that the patent office would enforce their patents; but, no, you are responsible for enforcing your own patents. The patent, issued by the U.S. Patent Trademark Office, gives you legal standing to enforce your intellectual property rights.
How do I get copyright protection for my work? As soon as you put pen to paper, so to speak, your work is copyrighted and protected. In other words, as soon as you put your unique, creative ideas into a tangible form (paper, recording, or otherwise), your work is copyrighted. That being said, it is wise to register your copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office. Registering gives notice and helps with enforcement.
Why do Coke and KFC rely on trade secret protections when they could get a patent? Some companies rely on trade secret protections, and not patent protection, because trade secret protection can last indefinitely, and patents last just 20 years. In addition, the patent process is complicated and expensive, taking a lot of effort. Moreover, trade secrets are harder to copy than patents. A detailed description of how to reproduce an innovation must be included in the patent application.
IP Glossary
Fair Use “Fair use” is a limited exception to copyright exclusivity allowed for commentary, criticism, news reporting, or education.
Trade Dress “Trade dress” refers to distinctive packaging that serves to identify the product by its shape and/or decoration. Examples are the yellow gold of Kodak film’s packaging as well as Advil’s blue and yellow packaging. Even the golden arches of McDonald’s, identifying a service, are protected by trade dress laws.
Unfair Competition Your intellectual property can be protected from use without your consent, regardless of whether or not you have a patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret. Unfair competition is present when an individual or company presents its services or products to the public in a manner that would serve to confuse as to who or which company is actually providing the services or products. Voices, restaurant designs, slogans, packaging, titles, business names and titles can all be protected under unfair competition laws.