In general, no copyright protection is available for the design of something that is “useful.” “Useful” is defined by the Copyright Act as something with “an intrinsic utilitarian function that is not merely to portray the appearance of the article or to convey information.” 17 U.S.C. § 101. For example, the designs for claw or… READ MORE

How to Protect Trade Secrets Under Federal Law

Trade secrets are among the most valuable forms of intellectual property owned by any business. Those trade secrets should be and must be protected from misappropriation and unauthorized disclosure. As recently reported here, trade secret litigation is on the rise, particularly in federal courts since the passage of the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016…. READ MORE

When someone applies for a federal trademark registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it is possible for the trademark registration application to be refused. While this is often disappointing, it is possible to appeal a trademark registration refusal. An experienced trademark registration lawyer will be able to help you understand your… READ MORE

For businesses that are just starting out, intellectual property (IP) rights can be immensely valuable. Your IP rights could be the business asset that sets your company apart from your competitors. Equally important to growing a fledgling startup is entering into strategic and valuable business relationships with mature companies that can offer synergistic benefits for… READ MORE

Many businesses choose to protect their valuable intellectual property assets through the use of trade secret protection. A trade secret is any valuable business information that derives its value from being kept secret. The trade secret information gives the company a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The trade secret information could be a secret practice,… READ MORE