Here’s a Hanzo post from Dave Ruel, who starts a new series on intellectual property (IP). Here, he discusses what IP is and why it’s important!
In the article Understanding IP: What Is It and Why It’s Important For Your Enterprise (available here), Dave discusses what IP is and why it’s important (duh!).
It may seem obvious why IP is important – generally. It’s also one of the most common types of disputes in eDiscovery and the stakes are huge. I’ve covered several cases involving IP disputes, including this one, this one, this one, this one, this one and this one.
But do you fully know what IP is?
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), intellectual property “refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.” That broad definition covers the various aspects of a company’s brand, from its name, logo, brand colors, and slogan to the designs, technologies, and processes it uses to create its products.
IP protections fall under four major categories:
- Patents give the inventor the exclusive right to build, use, and sell a product or design;
- Trademarks protect the logos, designs, slogans, and brand marks that differentiate a company and its goods;
- Copyright covers creative arts such as literature, music, and paintings; and
- Trade secrets are the nuggets of insider information—generally protected through nondisclosure agreements—that companies use to create their products.
Dave provides some more information as to what IP is and why it’s important, including examples of IP and what happens when it’s stolen. Check out his post here!
So, what do you think? Have you been involved in IP litigation? Please share any comments you might have or if you’d like to know more about a particular topic.
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Disclaimer: The views represented herein are exclusively the views of the author, and do not necessarily represent the views held by my employer, my partners or my clients. eDiscovery Today is made available solely for educational purposes to provide general information about general eDiscovery principles and not to provide specific legal advice applicable to any particular circumstance. eDiscovery Today should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a lawyer you have retained and who has agreed to represent you.