A step-by-step guide to identifying and protecting your most valuable assets.
What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
Intellectual Property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. Protecting your IP is one of the most critical steps you can take to build a valuable and defensible business.
This guide will walk you through the four main types of IP and help you create a basic strategy for your business. Use the "Next" and "Previous" buttons to navigate, or click directly on a tab.
How to Use This Guide
Each section provides an overview of an IP type and a checklist of strategic actions.
For each action item, you can select your current status.
The final "Summary" tab will compile all items marked as "To-Do" or "In Progress" into a downloadable action plan.
Trademarks: Your Brand Identity
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. Your brand name, logo, and slogans are typically your most important trademarks.
Copyrights: Your Creative Works
Copyright protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation.
Patents: Your Inventions
A patent is a limited duration property right relating to an invention, granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in exchange for public disclosure of the invention. The most common types are utility patents (for new and useful processes or machines) and design patents (for new, original, and ornamental designs).
Trade Secrets: Your Confidential Information
A trade secret is information that companies keep secret to give them an advantage over their competitors. The most famous example is the formula for Coca-Cola. A trade secret can be any practice or process that is generally not known outside of the company. Unlike other forms of IP, they are protected without registration, but by maintaining their secrecy.
My IP Strategy Action Plan
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Intellectual property law is complex. Consult with a qualified IP attorney to address your specific business needs.
