Creativity is a commodity. Of all the things that you can do to build wealth and make a living for them, using your mind to develop novel solutions to problems is one of the most rewarding. And it requires stringent protections.
Whether you are a writer, designer, musician, inventor or a business owner with a trade secret, your creativity is what sets you apart. You have to do what it takes to protect your “creative capital,” and there are many ways to do it.
Copyright
Any creative work such as writing, music, dance, software or architecture can achieve protection from federal copyright law if it meets the requirements. Copyright protections last a long time, and there have been some fascinating changes in the law over the last twenty years, but it does eventually expire.
Trademark
A brand name, slogan or any other vehicle that identifies a product or company can seek protection from trademark law. A couple of examples of what can receive a trademark are Under Armour or BMW’s slogan “The Ultimate Driving Machine.”
Right of Publicity and right of privacy
To protect your name and likeness from unauthorized use, which is often sought out for those in the public light, you would seek publicity rights. These laws can vary state by state and can contain confusing legalize.
Privacy rights are subjected to differing state laws. Invasion of privacy can be a severe offense. Your privacy rights could have been invaded upon if private information is leaked, published or otherwise exploited.
If you have questions about your state’s publicity or privacy rights, or have questions or concerns about any other creative property matter, contacting a litigation firm experienced in intellectual property could be a wise move.
Trade secrets
Do you have sensitive information you want to keep safe? Trade secrets can come from a bevy of different industries, from a secret recipe to a new way of developing an app. A few factors determine the amount and length of protection.
Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed