What Start-Ups Need to Know About IP

Regardless of your industry or if you’re selling goods or offering services, intellectual property will play a part in your start-up. Having a working knowledge of the basics of intellectual property laws will allow you to safely navigate through various business hurdles and challenges. Patents, copyrights, and trademarks are the three pillars that make up intellectual property, and they can all affect your business in different ways.

Patents

The most common kind of patent is a utility patent, which protect the following kinds of inventions:

• Machines
• Articles of manufacture
• Compositions of a matter
• Invention improvements
• Processes or methods

The last bullet is a little known fact, but you can in fact patent a business method if it fits certain criteria. Most of the above listed terms are broad, but an Arizona patent lawyer at Parsons & Goltry can help you understand what each one means.

If your startup is based on an invention that matches one of these categories, a patent application needs to be in your immediate future. Getting your invention patented will protect your company from would be copycats trying to steal your invention.

Copyright

A copyright is for anyone with a business based on original words or images. Books, plays, music, speeches, drawings, artwork, photos, and other such things all qualify for copyright protection.

You don’t have to register for copyright protection to be protected. Copyright protection is granted based on the first creation. However, if you ever have to sue someone for copyright infringement, you will need an officially registered copyright.

Trademark

Trademarks are words, symbols, graphics, or signs that distinguish your brand from other brands. The purpose of a trademark is to avoid consumer confusion. Logos and slogans are the most commonly trademarked items, as they most easily identify brands.

Registering your company name and logo is a good idea for almost any company. This will protect your company from imposters trying to trade on your name or reputation.

This is not the full extent of what you need to know, but it’s a good start. If you have more questions about what your startup needs to know about intellectual property, call the intellectual property lawyers at Parsons & Goltry.