Before you expose any of your creations to the world, you should approach an IP licensing lawyer to help you file for a patent application. Intellectual property (IP) refers to names, symbols, literary and artistic works, inventions, images and designs that are created by a person. There are two categories of IP. These are Copyright and Industrial Property.

- Copyright—These include artistic and literary works. Examples of artistic creations that fall in this category are architectural designs, sculpture, photographs, paintings and drawings. Examples of literary creations include musical works, films, poems and plays and novels.

- Industrial property — These include industrial signs, trademarks, inventions (patents) and geographic indications of sources.

How to Patent an Idea

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issues patents which excludes other people from using, selling or offering for sale the invention in the United States. To get a patent, you must file an application at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The three main types of patents granted are Plant, Design and Utility patents.

- Plant patent—This patent is granted to any person who discovers or invents and asexually reproduces any unique type of plant.

- Design patent—Anyone who invents a new, original and ornamental design to be used in any kind of manufacture is granted a Design patent.

- Utility patent—This patent is granted to anyone who discovers or invents any new and useful compositions or matters, articles of manufacture, machine, or useful process. It is also granted to anyone who makes a useful improvement to any of the aforementioned.

Protecting your Intellectual Property

Over the last two decades, the Internet has evolved tremendously and today is an essential part of the business world. You can reach customers over the Internet, communicate with supplies, carry out transactions and perform a host of other things. However, while the benefits of Internet cannot be denied, its downside when it comes to IP theft cannot also be ignored.

IP like website graphics, website sales pages, videos, music and other types of digital recordings that can be made available on the Internet can easily be copied, distributed and used for commercial purposes without your consent. Sophisticated technology has led to formation of groups of brute attack hackers who infiltrate computers to earn bragging rights to IP espionage where companies pay less to obtain software and other hacked data of their competitors.

Getting a patent for your creation will give you peace of mind and the right to take legal action against any IP thieves.

Get Help From an IP Lawyer

Before you expose any of your creations to the world, you should get a patent for it to prevent unauthorized third parties from using, selling, distributing or profiting from the creation. An IP licensing lawyer can help you file for a patent application and advise you on the options to take when it comes to licensing the creation for use by other people.