As your innovative creation is almost ready to be sold, your initial thought might be to share it with the world. But before you share your new product or service, you should consider how best to protect it to avoid copycats. Failing to carefully protect your intellectual property can severely impact your business. Our Rockford business law attorneys have put together four easy ways to protect what you’ve worked so hard to develop.
#1: Register Copyrights, Trademarks & Patents
Copyright, trademark, and patent are three of the most common types of intellectual property protection.
- Copyright: Copyright applies to the protection of tangible and intangible creative works. You own the copyright the moment you create something, even if you did not register it. However, if you do register it, you can prove that the creation was yours in a legal dispute.
- Trademark: You can trademark symbols, designs, logos, and catchphrases as part of their marketing strategy and identity.
- Patent: If you’ve invented a unique product, machine or equipment, or chemical composition, you can also protect this IP by filing for a patent.
#2: Get Strong Non-Disclosure Agreements
Get an attorney to help you create a well-written non-disclosure agreement. You should also make sure that all other agreements used in your business cover intellectual property, such as sales contracts, licenses, employment agreements, and more.
#3: Get Exact-Match Domains
A great tip to protect your business from copycats is to get exact-match domain names. For example, if your website is “globaltech.com,” you should also own “globaltech.net,” and so on. This prevents other companies from trying to create a business or website with a similar name as yours. Therefore when a customer or client goes on your website, there is no doubt that the website they are visiting is, in fact, yours.
#4: Seek Legal Guidance
The best way to protect your business from potential legal issues is to have an experienced attorney on your side. Our team at Reno & Zahm LLP has the business knowledge, skills, and experience needed to help your company avoid litigation and limit liabilities. With 100 years of combined experience as a firm, the attorneys at Reno & Zahm LLP are dedicated to finding the best legal solutions for you and your business.
Contact us today at (815) 987-4050 to schedule a consultation!
The blog published by Reno & Zahm LLP is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice on any subject matter. By viewing blog posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship between the reader and the blog publisher. The blog should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.