Intellectual property laws are laws that help protect the rights of creators of original work. This work may be writing, music, inventions, and more. These laws ensure that only the creator has the ownership of the work and it cannot be used by another without the permission of the owner of the work.
There are Four Basic Types of Intellectual Property Laws:
Copyright Laws
These laws pertain to works like fine arts, publishing, software development, and entertainment.
Copyright laws ensure that the original work of a creator is not copied, displayed, or presented without their permission.
Trademark Laws
These laws pertain to protecting the rights of an entity to prevent someone else from using logos, words, phrases, symbols, or designs that a brand identifies itself by.
Brands are required to register their trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademark laws are then applicable to help prevent infringement or dilution.
Patent Laws
These laws pertain to protecting the rights of owners of new inventions. The inventions could be products/processes/designs, etc. The inventor is entitled to patent rights that can be licensed, mortgaged, sold, or assigned.
The patent owner has the authority to decide who can or can’t produce, distribute, use, or import the patented item.
Trade Secrets
Trade secrets are essentially formulas, designs, business practices, etc., specifically created by a business for its use. These secrets are confidential and cannot be used by someone who is not a part of the business.
Trade secrets are not registered and the owner must take appropriate measures to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
Intellectual property lawyers help a creator prevent their property from being infringed. The services of an intellectual property lawyer are a must in such cases because these lawyers help determine whether you have a valid case, what type of law is applicable for your case, etc. They collect the necessary data required to represent you to ensure that your rights are protected.
In the case of Trademarks, your lawyer will check to find out if the trademark is in use or has been used by another brand. If the intellectual property lawyer is satisfied with the trademark on all accounts, he will file for registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
If you need help with patent laws, make sure to choose a lawyer who is knowledgeable about the patent and can assess the risks of infringement. He will advise you on how best you can protect your patent.
They also help their clients in case their properties are infringed. This will involve a lawsuit in the federal court. Your intellectual property lawyer will represent you in court and ensure that your rights are protected.
Intellectual property laws are complex and you will need a lawyer who is aware of all aspects of the specific law to which your case is related. There are intellectual property lawyers who specialize in each type of law. So make sure you choose the one who is an expert in the type of law that pertains to your property.
Autrey Law Firm has experienced lawyers who can provide the best services to protect your property from infringement.