Top Intellectual Property Lawyers Near You

What Do Intellectual Property Lawyers Do?

Intellectual property lawyers address legal issues surrounding the rights of ownership of these ideas, inventions, trade secrets, processes, programs, data, formulas, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trade dress, service marks or trademarks, the application or registration (referred to as copyright, patent, trade dress, trade secret, trademark or intellectual property law), and the legal or illegal use of this property. The four main types of intellectual property are:

• Trademark
  A trademark can be a logo, name, symbol, or device used to differentiate a product or service of one trader (or commercial entity) from that of another-brand identity. Example: McDonalds’ golden arches. Trademark protection lasts for 10 years after registration, and is renewable.
• Patent
  A patent is the grant of right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing an invention or discovery, including new and improved products and processes. Patents can be registered in foreign countries, last for 20 years and are renewable. But, if the patent expires, the exclusive rights to make, use, sell or import the invention or discovery is lost.
• Trade Secret
  Trade secrets (covered by state rather than federal laws) include formulas, patterns, device or any compilation of data that gives a company a tangible advantage over its competitors (e.g., Coca Cola’s formula for its soft drink).
• Copyright
  A copyright is protection granted to authors of original authorship such as literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, and computer software, as well as performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and broadcasters in their radio and television programs. Example: The creators of your favorite music CD, movie, or computer game have a copyright on their work. Copyrights last for the life of an author plus 50 years.

Should I Hire an Intellectual Property Lawyer?

Intellectual property law lawyers cover a very broad area of legal issues involving contracts, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, trade dress and other issues. Intellectual property lawyers can even help you with issues pertaining to Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) or Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), as well as other Internet and other Information Technology matters as well as transactional entertainment law, which could involve such people as producers, writers, actors, musicians and directors.

If you are involved with any of these issues, issues pertaining to obtaining or licensing trademarks, copyrights or other intellectual property, it is in your best interest to consult with a qualified Lead Counsel Intellectual Property Lawyer.