The basics of intellectual property: Copyrights, trademarks, patents, and more

Every small business owner needs to know the basics of intellectual property – to protect their own branding and product design, as well as to make sure they know what they can (and cannot) use from others’ ideas. In this workshop, attorney Kimberly Hanlon will go through the essential aspects of copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.

COPYRIGHTS:

• What do copyrights protect?
• How do I get copyright protection?
• What do I do if someone is violating my copyright?
• What do I do if I’m accused of violating someone else’s copyright?
• What is the fair use doctrine?
•  What does it mean for something to be “in the public domain”?
• I’ve heard that if I change something by a certain percentage, that it isn’t a copyright violation anymore. Is that true?

TRADEMARKS:

• What do trademarks protect?
• How do I get trademark protection?
• What do I do if someone is violating my trademark?
• What do I do if I’m accused of violating someone else’s trademark?.

PATENTS:

• What do patents protect?
• What are the drawbacks to patents?
• How do I get patent protection?
• What do I do if someone is violating my patent?
• What do I do if I’m accused of violating someone else’s patent?
• I’ve heard that if I seal my idea in an envelope and mail it to myself and leave it unopened, that will stand up with the patent office if someone tries to take my idea. Is that true?
• What happens if I want to improve on someone else’s idea?

TRADE SECRETS:

• What do trade secrets protect?
• How do I get trade secret protection?
• What do I do if I’m accused of violating someone else’s trade secret protection?
• What do I do if someone is violating my trade secret?