Intellectual Property Lawyer in Columbus

Your Thoughts and Ideas Have Value. Let Us Protect Them.

Although intellectual property is not always visible to the eye, the value of it is immeasurable. Intellectual property (IP) consists of the creations of the mind. Such creations like literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, and inventions deserve legal protection. Your thoughts and ideas are personal to you and they are worth protecting. Our team is proud to help you do exactly that.

Some ways we can legally protect your IP include: 

• Creating trademarks

We have all seen the tiny trademark symbols next to our favorite brand names. While these symbols are tiny, a great amount of effort often goes into granting them. Most businesses begin their trademark application when their LLC or corporation paperwork is filed. This ensures that your name is protected once you begin commercial sales. Trademarks can be registered with the federal or state government. Federally registered trademarks protect your rights in the U.S. and state-registered trademarks provide protection only in that state.

• Creating copyrights

While trademarks apply to commercial names, copyrights are specifically reserved for creative or intellectual works. A copyright is an IP law that protects original works of authorship, such as literary, dramatic, musical, and other artistic works, as well as computer software, architecture, graphic arts, video and sound recordings, databases, and books. 

Creating a copyright provides the following benefits:

• Public record of ownership
• Presumption of ownership
• Eligibility for statutory damages, attorney fees, and costs of suit
• Protection against importation of infringing works
• Registering patents

Utility patents can be granted to individuals who invent or discover a new and useful process. This includes a machine, article of manufacture, composition of matters, and other types of developments. U.S. law requires that you file a patent application within one year of the initial offer to sell your invention or within a year of the first public use or disclosure of the invention. A patent will allow you to prevent your competitors from selling an identical product, which will be immensely helpful in generating sales from your rightful idea. With a patent, you will be the sole supplier of the specific product.

• Creating policies for trade secrets

A trade secret is an interesting type of IP that focuses on confidential information that can be sold or licensed. For information to be considered a trade secret, it must be commercially valuable and only be known to a limited group of individuals. When you have a trade secret protection, you have the right to lawfully prevent information from being disclosed or from being acquired by others. This can help establish a brand identity, help you profit from your assets, and stop others from using your creations.