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Frequently
asked questions...
What is Intellectual
Property protection?
The term "Intellectual Property" refers to something that
is produced by the mind and which is legally protectable. Intellectual
Property typically includes inventions, works of authorship, and
a wide variety of commercial work product such as trademarks and
marketing materials. Intellectual Property is often intangible,
but often can be embodied or reproduced in a tangible form that
may be commercially exploited.
Most industrialized
countries have legal systems that allow you to limit the use by
others of your Intellectual Property. These legal systems are designed
to encourage the creation of new Intellectual Property and related
commercial investment. Intellectual Property laws are typically
complex and unique to each country. Certain types of Intellectual
Property rights can be lost if appropriate steps are not taken within
prescribed time periods.
The most important
forms of Intellectual Property protection include:
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Patents |
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allow
you to prevent others from making, using, or selling a product
or process embodying the claimed technology |
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Trademarks |
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allow
you the exclusive use of words, slogans, logos, colors, or other
symbols capable of distinguishing your products and/or services
from similar products and/or services of others |
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Copyrights |
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prevent
others from copying, altering, or making derivatives of original
works of authorship without permission; examples of copyrightable
works include commercial graphics, instruction manuals, and
advertising materials |
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Trade
Secrets |
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allow
you to restrict the distribution and use of confidential information
if the information is capable of being maintained in confidence
and steps are in fact taken to prevent unauthorized disclosure
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Why
do I need to protect my Intellectual Property?
Intellectual Property allows you to protect your investments in
product design and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales,
and distribution. If you secure your Intellectual Property, you
can prevent your competitors from copying innovative features of
your products, your manufacturing systems and methods, and your
marketing, sales, and distribution strategies.
Intellectual Property
thus creates value in your company by increasing market share and
preserving your competitive edge. Intellectual Property also gives
you proprietary rights that can be licensed to create additional
sources of revenue.
Frequently
asked questions:
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