Top 5 Small Business Intellectual Property Issues

Your business may sell tangible goods -- cars or cupcakes, say -- or it may sell services. But whatever business you are in, you will likely also have some intellectual property, meaning ideas, concepts, methods, phrases, or images which you seek to protect.

Intellectual property law governs the grant of patents, trademarks, copyright, and more. Let's consider the top five IP issues for small business.

1. Should You Copyright Your Website Material?

Websites and the content posted on them raise a lot of intellectual property issues. If you're concerned about other people copying your content, or if you are posting content that does not belong to you, become familiar with copyright and trademarks. Don't just grab images or ideas willy-nilly off the web, or you risk infringing on another's IP, and protect your own creations as well.

2. Trademark or Copyright? You May Need Both

A copyright protects a work of art, like a song or other piece of writing. A trademark, just as it sounds, protects the marks that become associated with a trade, such as your logo or slogan. Design elements can be very similar and people do come up with the same idea simultaneously in different places, so it is important to ensure that you protect your ideas with copyright or trademarks as appropriate.

3. Top 6 Trademark Mistakes

Sure, we can learn a lot from our mistakes, but wouldn't it be great if we could avoid them altogether? By doing research before you commit to a particular look or mark for your brand, you can save a lot of money. Apart from the risk of you infringing if you don't do research, there is also the possibility that someone else will infringe on your intellectual property. Find out how to secure your rights under state and federal law.

4. How Aggressively Should You Defend Your Trademarks?

You should protect your intellectual property but you don't have to do it obnoxiously. In 2012, the whiskey distiller Jack Daniel's asked a local Tennessee novelist to change the cover of his book because it resembled the company's distinctive whiskey bottle. The distillers were friendly about the matter, offering to contribute to a re-print of the book with a new cover.

5. Five Questions to Ask an Intellectual Property Lawyer

Depending on what you are looking to do, you will likely have a slew of questions for your lawyer. Here are some suggestions for basic questions to get you thinking about your consultation with an intellectual property lawyer.

Talk to a Lawyer

If you have concerns about copyrights, trademark, patents, or believe that your intellectual property is being infringed upon, talk to a lawyer. Many attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to assess your case.

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Related Resources:

• Find Business and Commercial Lawyers Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
• Copyright Basics (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• What Is a Patent? (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
• Trademark Basics FAQ (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)