What is intellectual property? Answering 4 fundamental questions about IP

The world of IP is filled with questions about its coverage, protection, and differences between all types of intellectual property. Some of the most popular questions revolve not only around the concept of intellectual property but also about the differences, convenience, and need for different types of IP protection. What type of intellectual property can I protect? Which protection do I need? What is the difference between trademark and copyright? What protection do I get from registering a patent? Is copyright registration voluntary? And the list goes on…

We’ve compiled four fundamental questions about intellectual property that outline the basic concepts and should help point you in the right direction for your IP needs.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property refers to creations that stem from the minds of inventors, artists, designers, and other creative owners. IP (Intellectual property) grants inventors and creators the recognition to benefit from or protect their creations by law. Inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, or images are all considered intellectual property and can be protected under IP law.

What does intellectual property law cover?

Intellectual property law protects the works of creators and inventors through patents, copyright, trademarks, and trade secret protection. IP law not only protects these creations but also enforces the rights of creators.

As an intellectual property law firm, Advent seeks to maneuver the complex world of intellectual property to maximize the value of innovation through holistic support and a unique model that goes beyond the traditional law firm model.

How can intellectual property be protected?

Intellectual property protection allows creators and inventors to secure an economic edge over their creation which allows them to make the most of it for business and creative purposes. The way creators and inventors must protect any intellectual property is by ensuring the appropriate registration of their creation with the government entity responsible for IP protection to guarantee and enforce all ownership and creative rights.

What are the types of intellectual property?

There are four types of intellectual property designated to protect different types of creations. These IP types are patents, copyright, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Patents: A patent is a limited monopoly offered by the government that prohibits anyone else from making, using, or selling something you have invented. The tradeoff is that you must provide full and complete details on how your invention works to be granted that monopoly by the government.

Trademarks: In the United States, a trademark is a word, phrase, symbol and/or design that identifies the products or services of a particular source. Often the term “service mark” is used to describe trademarks covering services.

Trade secrets: A trade secret is information or a compilation of information used in business that provides a competitive and/or economic advantage over businesses that do not know or use the information or compilation of information.

Copyright: A copyright is an exclusive right given to the author of an original work that is fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

Now that we’ve briefly covered the fundamentals of intellectual property, we hope you feel confident to embark on your IP protection journey. Do you have specific intellectual property law needs? Contact us to start the process.

ADVENT is an intellectual property law firm located in Omaha, NE that has creativity as part of its DNA. As an IP law firm, we broke the mold of the traditional law firm model to bring greater alignment with the needs of our clients by eliminating the billable hour.