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Intellectual Property Law
By
Joe Regan
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Intellectual Property Law can
be quite confusing at times. Copyrights, trademarks
and patents all have a role in protecting your hard earned
content and knowing their role is half the battle.
Intellectual property in itself refers to the creations of
the mind, including such things as: artistic works,
literary works, inventions, names, images, symbols, and
designs used in commerce. In other words, the intellect
that is the possession of an organization or an individual
is considered intellectual property.
Intellectual property is divided into two categories,
copyrights and industrial property.
Copyrights give the authors of an exclusive work,
exclusive rights to that work for a limited amount of
time. Copyrights cover such literary and artistic works as
novels, poems, plays, films, songs and other musical
works, artistic works (drawings, paintings, sculptures and
photographs) and architectural designs. Copyrights, which
must be renewed periodically, allow the creators of a
piece of work, the opportunity to benefit from that piece
of work.
Industrial property includes patents, trademarks,
industrial designs and geographic indications of source.
Patents give the inventors of a new product, a certain
(limited) amount of time in which he/she may prevent
others from making, selling or using the invention without
authorization.
A trademark is an intellectual property protection which
is used to protect the distinctive features that
distinguish one product from another. Those features can
include such things as: symbols, colors, brands, names,
sounds, smells, shapes, and signs.
Fortunately, Intellectual property laws benefit the
creator of a property, by rewarding that creator for
his/her innovation and creativity. Also, society as a
whole benefits from intellectual property laws, by the
fact, that these laws encourage creativity, therefore
allowing the rest of us to benefit from the wide range of
products and services that are produced.
Any violation of a trademark, patent or copyright could
constitute the grounds for an intellectual property
lawsuit. If you feel that you have been victimized it
would be wise to consult a qualified attorney in your
area. Find an attorney or law firm, which specializes in
intellectual property law. Know your rights and
protect them accordingly.
You are welcome to reproduce this article: Intellectual
Property Law as long as a live link to www.hugesettlements.com
is provided.
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