>
Navigating the Perilous Patent Path
Because a patent is the most expensive and complex type of IP (intellectual property) right, first analyse whether you can protect your IP with copyright, a trademark, or a service mark, or by keeping it under wraps as a trade secret.
If you and your IP professional decide that a patent is the way to go, and you have the time and money to see the process through to the conclusion, here’s the patent process in a nutshell:
Make sure the invention is really yours and doesn’t belong to your boss, your spouse, or your business partner.
Do a patent search to make sure that no one else has already come up with your formula, process or invention.
Check that your invention passes the test – it’s new, and wouldn’t be obvious to someone knowledgeable in the field.
Prepare a patent application, including:
A short abstract of the invention
The claims
A description and accompanying drawings, if applicable
A brief description of each figure of the drawing
A brief discussion of the general field, background and circumstances of the invention
A summary of the invention
References to any prior applications
File your patent application, paying special attention to filing deadlines.
Prevent publication of your application if you’re not ready to proceed due to commercial considerations.
If you allow your application to publish, pursue and prosecute your application through the UK-IPO.
Appeal adverse decisions of the Examiner.
Get the patent granted.
>
>
>
Getting Protected with Copyright
A copyright protects an Original Work of Authorship (OWA) – think short story, computer program or song lyrics, for example – which must be the author’s original creation. Here’s some at-a-glance info on copyright:
As soon as you create a work, you automatically enjoy copyright, which prevents others from copying, publishing or performing your work.
Make sure that you own the work. In other words, you didn’t produce it as an employee, or as a work made for hire.
You don’t need to register your copyright; it’s an automatic right upon creation.
Mark your work as a copyrighted work to discourage infringers and give yourself legal advantages by using the copyright symbol, followed by your company or personal name, and the date of creation, for example: © Widgets Ltd 2011.
>
>
>
Making Your Mark with Trademarks
You can trademark all sorts of different things. Different types of marks distinguish your product, service or company from others. Here’s a brief description of the different marks:
Product names and logos, commonly known as brands, or trademarks, which distinguish your product from others.
Service marks, such as certification marks, and membership or association marks.
Corporate identity, such as trade names, which are typically business names and logos.
A good trademark or service mark has the following characteristics:
Original (do a search first)
Distinctive character
Recognisable
Memorable
Pleasant associations
>
>
>
Keeping Trade Secrets
Trade secrets can take many forms, such as your customer and supplier list, your next marketing campaign, a particular process or formula, or your finances. Here’s how you can protect them:
Have all employees, contractors, consultants, advisors and suppliers sign a confidentiality agreement.
Restrict access to areas of your office or plant.
Mark documents with a confidential legend.
Limit circulation of confidential documents.
Lock away sensitive material.
Include warnings and directives in your employee manual.
>
>
>
Patents, Registered Designs, Trade Marks and Copyright Acronyms to Know
The world of patents, registered designs, trade marks and copyright can be a minefield of jargon and acronyms. Here’s a quick reference to help you out:
| ARIPO | Western Africa Patent Office |
| CIPA | Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys |
| CPA | Chartered Patent Attorney |
| EAPO | Eurasian Patent Office |
| EPA | European Patent Attorney |
| EPO | European Patent Office |
| EU | European Union |
| IP | Intellectual Property |
| IPR | Intellectual Property Right |
| ITMA | Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys |
| OA | Office action (by a patent or trademark examiner) |
| OAIP | Southeastern African Patent Office |
| OHIM | European Trademark Office (Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market) |
| OWA | Original Work of Authorship (protected by copyright) |
| PCT | Patent Cooperation Treaty |
| PVPA | Plant Variety Protection Act |
| PVPO | Plant Variety Protection Office |
| RTMA | Registered Trade Mark Attorney |
| UK-IPO | United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office |
| USPTO | United States Patent and Trademark Office |
| WIPO | World Industrial Property Organization |
| WMFH | Work Made For Hire |
>
>
dummies
Source:http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/patents-registered-designs-trade-marks-and-copyri0.html
No comments:
Post a Comment