An Intellectual Property Lawyers Protects Your Work

What is Intellectual Property?

It's not uncommon for a new client to reach out for legal advice regarding a novel idea. For example, the concept can make the client's business profitable and stand out from competitors. However, the positive vibes end with the excitement of creating this potentially lucrative idea. As a result, the client, unsure how to proceed, then invariably asks some of the following questions:

• "I have this great idea, but I'm not sure what to do with it. What should I do next?"
• "Is it OK to share my idea with others?"
• "What legal rights does this idea provide to me?"

Before an intellectual property lawyer can advise the client on how to proceed with their novel idea, they need to understand precisely the idea's nature. For example, clients' new ideas take many forms: some have conceived a new logo or image which will help their business become commercially successful; others have designed a new invention never before seen in the marketplace; others have created new meaningful artwork they want to display to the public.

Protecting Your Intellectual Property

These ideas, referred to as intellectual property (often shortened to IP), can provide a vast range of rights to their creator. However, such success can be fleeting if the client does not know how to protect their IP adequately. Unfortunately, the client often knows they have created something new but are unsure how to categorize or safeguard their idea. But, before discussing how the client can protect the idea, the client (and his IP lawyer) must identify what type of intellectual property has been created.

Intellectual property falls under four types:

1. patents
2. trademarks
3. copyrights
4. trade secrets

Each of these categories, or practice areas, has its own purpose and is regulated by distinct rules, statutes, and common law.

Knowing what form of intellectual property you've created is crucial in utilizing your new, helpful, and potentially lucrative idea. For instance, an intellectual property lawyer can help you identify how to classify your idea best and navigate the next steps with registration and protection.