Technological startups in California often consider seeking patent protection for their intellectual property. A patent helps businesses by protecting their property from being copied or used by other companies, allowing them to maintain a competitive edge.
Art and copyright law
Even after an artist in California sells a painting or sculpture to someone else, the artist still owns the rights to images of the work of art. In other words, no one but the artist who made the art may publish a photo of it. However, artists can give away or sell permission to publish images of their art for commercial or noncommercial uses.
Child patents may run up against terminal disclaimers
California companies who want to extend the terms of their patents may find that court precedents prevent them from using child patents to do so. In one December 2015 judgment, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan decided that an automotive holdings company was justified in seeking a judgment of invalidity against an electronics company that had filed a child patent in 1999.
