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PROTECTING IDEAS AND AVOIDING INFRINGEMENT
byMarc Karish
© Karish & Bjorgum, PC 2017119 E. Union Street, Suite BPasadena, California 91103Tel: (213) 785-8070E-mail: [email protected]
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TYPES OF PROTECTION
• TRADEMARKS AND TRADE DRESS• COPYRIGHT• PATENTS
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TRADEMARKS
• Forms of Marks• Searching• Strength of Marks
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TREADEMARKS MAY BE• Word(s) including surnames and geographical
terms• Letters• Slogans• Symbols• Color and color combinations• Trade dress and product configuration
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WORD AND SYMBOL MARK
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TRADE DRESS AND WORD MARK
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TRADEMARK SEARCHING
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• USPTO.GOV (TESS)• WEB SEARCH ENGINES• Other
– State Registrations– Specialized Searching (such as for symbols)
• TEST IS WHETHER LIKELY TO CAUSE CONFUSION.
SELECTING YOUR OWN MARK --STRENGTH OF MARKS
• Fanciful and Arbitrary• Suggestive• Descriptive, surnames, and
geographical• Generic (not protectable)
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Strongest
Weakest
COPYRIGHT• WHAT IS IT?• SUBJECT MATTER PROTECTED• HOW TO OBTAIN• RIGHTS OF THE OWNER• HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?• OWNERSHIP
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SUBJECT MATTER (EXAMPLES)• PRINTED MATTER INCLUDING
– Software– Proposals– Databases– Catalogs– Manuals
• ARTISTIC WORKS INCLUDING– Computer Screens– Sculptures– Audiovisual Works– Photographs, pictures and text in ads
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HOW OBTAINED• AUTOMATIC
• OPTIONAL - NOTICE– © OWNER NAME 2017
• OPTIONAL - REGISTRATION
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TERM OF COPYRIGHT
• LIFE OF THE AUTHOR PLUS AT LEAST 70 YEARS
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HOW TO AVOID COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
• DO NOT COPY– Independent creation is OK
• OBTAIN ASSIGNMENTS FROM OUTSIDE VENDORS
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PATENTS
• TYPES OF PATENTS?• WHAT IS INFRINGEMENT?• HOW IS INFRINGEMENT AVOIDED?
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UTILITY PATENT• SUBJECT MATTER PROTECTED
– Function or features of a product• SCOPE DEFINED BY CLAIMS• TERM
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SAMPLE UTILITY PATENT
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DESIGN PATENT• SUBJECT MATTER PROTECTED
– Product appearance• SCOPE DEFINED BY DRAWINGS• TERM
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SAMPLE DESIGN PATENT
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WHAT IS INFRINGEMENT?
NON-AUTHORIZED (i.e. no license)MakingUsingSellingOffering for SaleImportingExporting
PATENTED INVENTION
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HOW TO AVOID INFRINGEMENT
• INFRINGEMENT SEARCH– USPTO.GOV – PATENTS.GOOGLE.COM– IMPERFECT
• STUDY SCOPE OF PATENT– Design around
• VALIDITY STUDY
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HOW TO AVOID INFRINGEMENT
• WHEN THERE IS PRODUCT OF ANOTHER– Check for patent numbers on product, packaging
and website– Conduct assignee/inventor search– Conduct patentability study
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CONSIDER GETTING A PATENT
• EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS• MARKET SHARE• PROFIT MARGIN• MARKETING BENEFITS
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THANK YOUMarc Karish
Karish & Bjorgum, PC119 E. Union Street, Suite BPasadena, California 91103Tel: (213) 785-8070E-mail: [email protected]
