Where Do Trademark and Copyright Symbols Go? **Attorney Advertising**

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it’s important to understand when and how to use trademark and copyright symbols. These symbols indicate that a word, phrase, or image is protected by law, and they help to deter others from using your protected material without permission. But where do these symbols go? Read on to […]

Can Trade Secrets be Sold or Licensed? **Attorney Advertising**

Trade secrets are a type of intellectual property that can provide a competitive advantage to a business. Unlike patents and copyrights, trade secrets are not registered with the government and are instead kept secret by the owner of the information. But can trade secrets be sold or licensed? The answer is yes, but there are […]

What Can’t You Patent? **Attorney Advertising**

A patent is a form of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing an invention for a limited period of years. In order to get a patent, you must first file a patent application with the Patent Office in your country. In the US, […]

Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in a Franchise Agreement **Attorney Advertising**

A franchisor (or creator/developer of a business) licenses his or her techniques, intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and potentially patents), marketing, basic know-how, and rights to sell branded items and services to a franchisee through franchising. A typical franchisor–franchisee relationship lasts several years, during which time the franchisor provides various levels of support to […]

Spring Cleaning for your IP: 8 Steps to Take **Attorney Advertising**

Spring is here and it’s an excellent time to organize and audit your intellectual property. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken an audit of your “IP” or if you’ve never taken the time to secure your intellectual property rights at all, here are some key points to consider: Make sure you have an […]

What to Know When Seeking to Trademark a Foreign Word or Phrase **Attorney Advertising**

Coming up with a unique name for a brand, good, or service that can ultimately be trademarked is challenging. To stand out, and apart, from competitors and those who may already have intellectual property rights, some business owners will look to foreign words that aren’t commonly known or understood by English-speaking consumers to represent their […]