Intellectual Property Basics – Law Firm of Carlos Dobal

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BASICS

Know Your Intellectual Property Options

There are many misconceptions about how intellectual property protection works. However, many entrepreneurs and businesses cannot afford a crucial misstep. When you know how to fully protect your unique assets, you can prevent competitors from taking advantage of them.

Law Firm of Carlos Dobal, provides experienced counsel regarding intellectual property protection. Based in San Francisco, we can clarify complex legal matters to enable you to preserve ownership and control of your assets.

Trademarks Identify And Distinguish Your Work

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. Logos are a commonly trademarked asset, for example. You can apply for federal and state trademarks. In San Francisco, trademark registration can last for 10 years plus any renewal periods.

However, there are two forms of fair use that may allow another party to use a trademark:

Classic fair use: The defendant used the plaintiff’s mark to describe the defendant’s product or service, but the mark is descriptive in nature.
Nominative fair use: The defendant used the plaintiff’s mark to signify the plaintiff’s own product or service, potentially in comparison to the defendant’s offerings.

Because the main purpose of trademark law is to prevent consumer confusion, a trademark can last forever. However, the trademark belongs to the party that first uses it – not necessarily the party that registers it.

Patents Preserve Inventions

If you have a novel invention, you can work with your lawyer to file a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Through public disclosure of the invention, you may gain protection for a limited duration.

While we are well-versed in intellectual property matters, we are not registered patent attorneys. However, we work with outside counsel composed of registered patent attorneys to meet copyright needs.

How To Gain Copyright Protection

Music and choreography
Literature, including poetry, novels and short stories
Dramatic work, including theater scripts, movies and musicals
Artistic work, including both traditional and digital media
Computer software
Architecture

It is important to note that copyright law does not protect ideas alone. The idea may be the first step in the creation of a protectable work of authorship, but the work itself is what gains protection. Therefore, you cannot gain exclusive rights of your idea until you create a work to embody it – even if you do not formally publish that work.

Enforcing Protections Or Defending Against Infringement

Intellectual property infringement lawsuits usually depend on several factors, including:

Proof of ownership of the intellectual property.
The validity of any outstanding protections, such as a patent.
Proof of direct or indirect trade secret theft, copyright infringement or another violation.
Whether the use involved authorization, independent original creation or fair use.

These cases frequently involve a smaller entity or individual taking on a large corporation. The defendant often has extensive resources at their disposal, while plaintiffs may lack the resources to keep up. Regardless of your market power, our attorneys are determined to fortify your position through assertive advocacy.

Review Your Intellectual Property Protection Options

It can be difficult to determine whether your assets already have protection through the law or you need to take action to gain protection. Our experienced attorneys are ready to advise you. Call 415-704-4361 or complete our intake form to schedule a consultation.