One of the most famous inventors of all time, Thomas Edison, had over 2,300 patents for his inventions, but devices like light bulbs aren’t the only things that need legal protection. If you’re starting a new business, especially in the media or technology industries, you need to make sure that your intellectual property is protected.
What are intellectual property rights?
Intellectual property rights are exclusive rights of creations of the mind that are legally recognized. These typically include patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, and in some cases trade secrets. These are often procured and handled with the help of intellectual property law firms.
What can I get a patent for?
You cannot get a patent for just an idea; there are certain requirements you have to meet. The requirements for patent are pretty specific and you should make sure you do your research, but basically, what you are trying to patent needs to be new, intuitive, useful, and it cannot be obvious. These days, there are so many pending patents that it can take two or three years to get one approved. As of now, there are over one million patents pending, and thousands more applications are submitted every day.
Do I need a lawyer?
This is, of course, entirely up to you and your board of directors or management, but having legal counsel can come in handy. If you’re looking to obtain a trademark, a lawyer can help you with the process and advise you along the way, since they probably know a lot more about trademark law than you do.
Of course, if you do decide to hire a lawyer, make sure that you hire the right one. If you’re starting a tech company, for example, you might need the services of a tech startup lawyer more than you need a trademark lawyer. Similarly, if you think that you’ll need intellectual property rights, you’ll need to enlist the services of intellectual property law firms.
Disclaimer: The content above is a discussion of legal issues and general information; it does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as such without seeking professional legal counsel. Reading the content above does not create an attorney-client relationship. All trademarks are the property of L.A. Tech and Media Law Firm or their respective owners. All rights reserved. Learn more.