Types of Intellectual Property

Oct 13, 2020 | Intellectual Property

Every single business uses, monetizes, or becomes involved in a legal dispute concerning some sort of intellectual property (“IP”) during its lifetime. Thus, small businesses cannot afford to not have a basic knowledge of the various types of IP. Below is a high level overview each type.

Trademark

  • Protection of brand names, logos, slogans, or devices used to signify the source of goods and services.
  • Trade Dress, which is the packaging, configuration, design or even decor of a product or service, is a type of trademark.
  • Legal protection is provided by federal and state law.

Copyright

  • Protection of literary and artistic works.
  • Legal protection is provided by federal law.

Trade Secret

  • Protection of information, such as a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process that is economically valuable and not generally known or ascertainable by the public.
  • Legal protection is provided by federal and state law.

Right of Publicity

  • Protection of a person’s name and likeness, prohibiting the public use of a person’s name, photo, or likeness in trade, or for any commercial or advertising purpose, without the person’s permission.
  • Legal protection is provided by state law.

Patent

  • Protection of useful and non-obvious technologies and inventions.
  • Legal protection is provided by federal law.

Greenway Law Firm, P.A. handles IP matters involving trademarks, copyright, trade secret, and rights of publicity. If you or your business are in need our legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

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