Understanding the complex and ever-evolving landscape of U.S. intellectual property law is a daunting task, even for seasoned professionals.
- Patent law governs inventions and innovations, with various categories such as utility patents, design patents, and plant patents.
- Trademark law protects distinctive signs, symbols, phrases, or combinations of words that identify a product or service, like trademarks, service marks, and brand names.
- Copyright law safeguards original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as books, music, movies, and software.
Pursuing Intellectual Property in the United States
For individuals or businesses seeking to protect their intellectual property, it's essential to understand the unique aspects of each type of protection. For example, patent attorneys typically have expertise in patent law.
- A trademark attorney can help with registering and maintaining trademarks, while a copyright attorney is responsible for protecting original works from unauthorized use or infringement.
- A software intellectual property (IP) attorney can guide clients through the process of obtaining necessary patents, licenses, and other IP protections for their software.