Intellectual property law can be confusing and sometimes a little intimidating. Inventive Law Inc. has assembled some information to describe the basics of intellectual property law and how it can work for you. The links below provide an overview of the intellectual property landscape.

PATENTS

A patent for an invention (something useful, unique and non-obvious) is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by a government or an authorized multi-national agency.

TRADEMARKS

A trademark is a word, name, symbol, or perceivable indicia, which is used to indicate the origin of a product and to distinguish that product from others. Similarly, a service mark identifies and distinguishes a service rather than a product. In some cases, a color, smell, or sound can be trademarked.

COPYRIGHTS

Copyrights protect authors of “original works” whether they are published or unpublished. The 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the copyright owners the exclusive right to:

– Reproduce
– Prepare derivative works
– Make and distribute copies
– Perform or display the copyrighted work publicly.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Free Online Patents

Search for patents

Process for Obtaining a Utility Patent

Current Fee Schedule