IP Law 101

Under U.S. copyright law, there are certain rights that are exclusive to the creator of a work, such as poems, novels, software programs, research, or movies. However, issues regarding ownership and copyright often arise when two or more people come together to create the work.

Every copyright holder has the exclusive right to control how their work is used. But what happens when someone else uses your copyrighted material without your permission? Are they infringing on your copyright?

Understanding the first-to-file rule is vital for anyone looking to obtain a patent in order to protect their invention(s). It’s essential for inventors and businesses alike to take swift action when creating new ideas and ensure that all necessary paperwork is filed promptly in order to secure exclusive rights over those inventions before someone else beats them to it.

Obtaining a patent can be a lengthy and challenging process. If you do invent something new, it can take more than a year—perhaps two years or more—to get approval from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for your creation.

Patents are a powerful tool for inventors, businesses, and individuals alike. A patent grants its owner the right to prevent others from making, using, or selling the patented invention in the United States and its territories.

Trademarks can be names, logos, symbols, and descriptive phrases. The Golden Arches, for instance, identify directly with McDonald’s. Or, “Let’s get ready to rumble,” the phrase made famous by boxing and wrestling announcer Michael Buffer has been officially trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO, and earned the owner some $400 million in licensing fees.

When people come up with a name, logo, symbol, phrase, or image for a new product or service they’re offering, their first instinct may be to seek trademark protection, as if that’s as simple a task as registering a vehicle you just purchased. Just fill out a form, pay your fee, and you’re done. But, trademark registration is not that straightforward.

As an entrepreneur, you’ve been following an idea for an item you are passionate about and opening a retail shop. You want to protect your brand, so you apply to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a trademark, and the application is denied.

You’ve just designed something new and applied for a patent, now waiting for its approval. Meanwhile, during the patent-pending period – when your application has been submitted but not yet approved – you discover that someone else has just hijacked your design and is already offering the world a better option. What can you do?

Many business owners – both those starting out and those who are more established – have misconceptions about what a trademark accomplishes, as well as how and when to register and then protect one.