Intellectual Property for Business Owners – 10 Things You Should Know
Your business has intellectual property made up of your collective ideas, innovation, and intelligence. Your intellectual property can include trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and patents. There is no arguing the fact that intellectual property has value. A trade secret like the recipe for Coca-Cola can give a company a competitive advantage that lasts for a […]
Brand Name, Product Name, Business Name – What’s the Difference?
Did you know that a brand and business are not the same thing? The names could match, but they’re not the same thing. Did you know that a product and a brand are not the same thing? Again, the names could match, but they’re not the same thing. Are you confused? Don’t worry. You’re not […]
Demystifying Copyright Symbols
Be confused no more! I’m about to take the guesswork out of how to create and use a proper copyright notice. You see copyright symbols all the time but may not be sure what the symbol really means. The copyright symbol, the letter C in a circle, or ©, may be used for any “original […]
Trademarks, Copyrights and Common Law: Possession is Only Nine-Tenths of the Law
There is a maxim that tells us, “Possession is 9/10’s of the law.” However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the remaining 1/10. In fact, doing so when it comes to your trademarks and copyrights could cause irreparable harm to you and your business! For this concept to make sense, you need to understand how […]
Non-Disclosure Agreements – 3 Choices Only You Can Make
You have a great idea for a new business, product, service, or method of doing something. You’ve developed a way to turn that idea into a tangible item, but you can’t actually make that item until you get some money. You approach investors with the hope that one of them will understand your vision and […]
When Should I File For International Trademark Protection?
Trademark rights are territorial, which means they’re granted on a country-by-country basis. There is no such thing as a “global” trademark. This means that you have to file a trademark application in each country (or region, such as the European Union, in some cases) where you seek legal protection. Where Should I File? Determining where […]
How Long Does It Take to Register a Trademark? [Infographic]
The federal trademark application and registration process isn’t quick. Take a look at the Trademark Timeline infographic below, and you’ll see that the total time from application filing to registration could vary—anywhere from seven months to two years or more! The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) processes all federal trademark applications, and according […]
Demystifying Trademark Symbols
I get a lot of questions about using the TM, SM, ®, and © symbols. Trademark symbols can be confusing, but don’t them intimidate you. Here are four things you should know about how to use trademark symbols to protect your brand and business. 1. What the Trademark Symbols Are There are three commonly used […]
3 Biggest Differences Between the Principal Register and Supplemental Register for Trademarks
You have a business and you want to protect your brand with a trademark so no one else can use it. After all, if another company in your industry starts to use the same brand name as you, consumers could be confused. You don’t want them to think a competitor’s inferior products and services come […]
How to Minimize Risk to Your Trade Secrets When Employees Leave
I’m sure you’ve worked very hard to build your business, and you’ve probably spent a lot of time, energy, and money into developing processes, policies, and strategies that enable you to create and sell your products or services. But what happens when a key employee who knows the ins and outs of those processes, policies, […]