2006 Trends in Intellectual Patent Rights

The costs to get a patent and the time it takes to get one due to the bureaucracy of the US Patent and Trademark Office is out of control. No longer can small garage inventors afford to get a patent for something they built in their garage that the world really needs.

Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights - What's the Difference?

A discussion of the differences between patents, trademarks and copyrights. What they protect. How long they last.

Patent Me This, Batman

If you have a great idea for an invention, you must protect it. Here are some invaluable tips for how to patent your invention.

Protecting Intellectual Property

Devices such as copyrights, trade secrets, patents, trade/service marks are very helpful for preventing the unauthorized use or distribution of your products. However, if someone really wants to pirate your products, they will.

Intellectual Property: Community Trade Marks – Registration Refusal – Likelihood of Confusion

In Alcon Inc v Of Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) [2005], a mark was refused registration because the public was likely to confuse the mark with another similar mark.

Media Law – Music Copyright – ISP’s Liability for File Sharing

A Coalition of music industry bodies, including the MCPRS Alliance and the Association of Independent Music, is lobbying to have intellectual property law amended to allow Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to be sued for allowing illegal file-sharing on their networks. Commentators have said that their efforts are misguided and commercially impractical. Currently, ISP’s are not required to police the content of their networks much in the same way that telephone companies are not liable for obscene calls.

Selecting Business Names and Intellectual Property Law

An information technology & intellectual property lawyer steps through some common provisions of software license agreements and software development contracts. Includes explanations of the purpose and effect of particular clauses in software and technology contracts.

Trade Secrets Experts - Two Circuits, Two Outcomes

Two recent rulings from federal circuit courts reviewing expert testimony in trade secrets cases reached very different results, with one circuit upholding admission of the testimony and the other finding that the testimony was sufficiently harmful to require a new trial. Taken together, the two cases shed light on the allowable boundaries for expert testimony in trade secrets litigation

Intellectual Property - Copyright Infringement in Computer Software

The case of Point Solutions Ltd v Focus Business Solutions Ltd and Another [2007], which was heard in the Court of Appeal, involved a claimant who carried on business as a provider of computer software services, and in particular software for the creation and use of electronic application forms for provision to the financial services sector.

Domain Names - A Market of Great and Growing Importance

The sale of domain names generated $29 million in 2005, with increasing numbers each year after that. Domain names transactions involve large amounts money, and the market for them is quickly becoming one of the most important in the new century. Domain name arbitration is not the only way to ensure that URL's go to whom they should.

What Is International Copyright Law?

Many people are surprised to learn there is no international copyright law. Yes, that is right. There is not an international copyright law that will protect your work on the other side of the world. However, it is important to note that most countries do offer some form of protection known as “foreign” works.

Five Key Questions About IP Help Increase Market Value and Improve Bottom Line Results

Five key questions about your intellectual property can help increase corporate value and bottomline results. Effective management of these rights is the key to success in the information age.

The Business of Identity Theft

Q: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online collectibles business. I recently received an email that my PayPal account was going to expire in five days if I didn't click a link in the email and give them my PayPal account information. Being naturally paranoid I decided not to give this information and I'm happy to say that my PayPal account did not expire. Was this a scam? -- Brenda A.

Avoiding ID Theft and Credit Fraud

One in every eight Americans has already been victimized! It can take years and thousands of dollars to correct an identity theft, credit fraud or a simple key entry error by a clerk at a Credit Bureau. It takes just minutes for you to use these proven tips!

Preventing Identity Theft

Preventing identity theft is never foolproof but use these tips and you'll have a much better chance at preventing identity theft before it happens.