Why Seek Protection for Intellectual Property?
When you are starting a small business or a new venture, protection for intellectual property might be the last thing you think of. But this is a mistake.
It’s your property
You always seek protection for your business’ property. Don’t you? You do not leave the office door unlocked. You take out insurance on your buildings and equipment.
Your intellectual property is really property. Without seeking protection for it, you are setting yourself up for loss. You could lose your business’ identity or even your creative works. Your property deserves protection.
Trademark
Trademark is the type of intellectual property protection for something that identifies your goods or services in commerce. At a minimum, it is wise to trademark your company name and possibly your logo. You could also trademark specific products and services that you offer.
The strongest trademark is a federal registration, which you can acquire with relatively little cost.
Copyright
Copyright is the type of intellectual property protection you obtain for original creative. In the United States, your copyright affixes when you put your work in a tangible medium (such as writing it down or taking a photograph).
To solidify your copyright protection, you should seek a federal copyright registration. This is a simple process, and it provides enhanced benefits over an unregistered copyright.
As you can see, it is important to seek protection for intellectual property. Without sufficient legal protection, your intellectual property can be lost.
Photo by Curious_Zed
