{"id":4930,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/avoiding-infringement-problems.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T02:17:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T07:17:58","slug":"avoiding-infringement-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/avoiding-infringement-problems.html","title":{"rendered":"Avoiding Infringement Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Avoiding Infringement Problems<\/h1>\n
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\n By Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

As an entrepreneur, you put a lot of time, energy, and effort into your services and products. It’s natural to want your original works protected. Small business owners have to make sure their creative works are original or use disclaimers indicating who the original works of authorship belong to. Infringement<\/a> occurs when a person or business uses or diminishes the value of another’s protected intellectual property in some way.<\/p>\r\n

You may have to pay attorney’s fees and damages to the person whose intellectual property work<\/a> you, intentionally or unintentionally, copied. Learn how to avoid patent infringement, copyright issues, plagiarism, and trademark infringement in this article.<\/p>\r\n

Patents<\/a><\/h2>\r\n

Patents are intellectual property protection<\/a> inventors secure when they create a new invention. A patent gives the inventor the exclusive right to use the registered design, utility, or plant patent. Startups often get patents on their products to increase their company valuation and stop "copycat" production of their inventions by competitors.<\/p>\r\n

1. Types of Patents<\/h3>\r\n

There are three types of patents. Each is unique in how an entrepreneur could infringe on their intellectual property rights. This includes how another person or business could copy them and how long patent protection lasts.<\/p>\r\n