US INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, including such things as artistic works, literary works, inventions, names, images, symbols, and designs used in commerce.

Intellectual property laws benefit the creator of a property, by rewarding that creator for his/her innovation and creativity. Society also benefits from intellectual property laws, as they encourage creativity - allowing the rest of us to benefit from the wide range of products and services that are produced.

TYPES OF INTELLECTUAL 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 to benefit from that piece of work.

Industrial property includes patents, trademarks, industrial designs & 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, colours, brands, names, sounds, smells, shapes, and signs.

A trade secret is data (a formula, device, idea or process) that is privately held by a business. It must be advantageous to the company and be actively treated as confidential information. Non-disclosure agreements offer the best protection against trade secret leakage.

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, and that you have a legitimate intellectual property lawsuit claim, it would be wise to consult a qualified attorney in your area. Find an attorney or law firm, which specializes in intellectual property law, and go from there.