Patenting your intellectual property is a crucial component of your business’s success. The competitive edge provided by a patent can be invaluable. You probably know that the patent application process can be lengthy. So, how do you know when it’s the right time to begin the patent application process?
The patent process can be quite involved
Many people spend their lives trying to come up with an invention that they believe will allow others to do something more efficiently. Inventors often patent their ideas to prevent someone else from capitalizing on their inventions as their own. Not every concept is patentable.
Fending off trade secret theft before it occurs
Your company devoted years to developing this new product requiring a diverse team of employees that relied on formulating a number of innovative processes. With the project completed, the product eventually gets introduced to the market and makes a splash. Next, the race to get several patents really turns into a slow trudge because securing one with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office takes years.
Steps to protecting trade secrets
Do your trade secrets give your company an edge? Is it imperative that you protect those secrets from the competition? Even for some of the most well-known brands in the world, the entire value of the company lies in their trade secrets -- the things that really set them apart. Protecting that is crucial.
Did you know that trademarks can't include certain words?
Customers often remember unique trademarks. You may even find that companies will come to you and ask to license your mark if it's well-recognized or admired by others. Shear recognition and licensing deals can make your trademark quite valuable. Knowing what types of words you can use when registering your trademark is the first step in crafting a mark that others will remember.
The three main types of patents
If you are a business owner, researcher, or inventor, you may believe that you have discovered a unique process or substance. In order to protect the findings that you have made and have time to develop them further before someone else takes advantage of it, you may need to apply for a patent.
4 tips for avoiding intellectual property violations
Intellectual property (IP) issues are a legal minefield for business owners. The use of graphics, taglines, and even product components that are not developed in-house can leave a business owner open to intellectual property violation allegations. There are also risks if a new hire uses intellectual property from a previous employer.
How long do intellectual property rights remain in effect?
Some of the more common types of intellectual property are patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights. Many Californians invest a significant amount of time creating their artistic works, crafting a recognizable logo for their brand, designing a much-needed product or coming up with the right recipe for success. Savvy individuals protect the integrity of those items by filing for the appropriate intellectual property rights to them. These protections remain in effect for varying lengths of time.
