Intellectual Property Lawyers
“Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.” – WIPO
Intellectual Property (“IP”) is used in every segment of the US economy. The United States’ total IP is valued at approximately $6.6 trillion, which is more than some countries’ entire GDP. The three most common types of IP are copyrights, trademarks and patents. However, IP protection is also available for other creative works such as trade secrets, publicity rights, and industrial designs.
IP is an intangible asset that adds value to a business. IP owners have rights that come from their creation and ownership of their IP which makes identifying and protecting IP important, especially in today’s increasingly knowledge-based economy.
Most businesses, regardless of size, will have some form if IP for which their business relies upon to drive their business and distinguish themselves from competitors. It is important for business owners to be able to identify and understand their IP portfolio so they will be able to control:
- Ownership of creative works, products, and their overall brand,
- Consumer perception of their business or product, and
- Use of their IP to prevent others from using the owner’s product or brand for their own financial gain.
- Protection of knowledge that gives their business a competitive advantage
We help business owners identify and protect their IP portfolios so they can run their business without unexpected complications from competitors and also help those business owners manage competitor issues should they arise. Common types of IP include: