Intellectual property law

This law aims to help prevent misappropriation of people's work. It also serves as a catalyst to motivate people into developing creative properties that will be beneficial to the public.

Intellectual property is defined as a type of property that mostly include intangible things created out of the human mind. Some countries are known to recognize and value more intellectual properties than others; examples of these properties are trademarks, patents, copyright, trade secrets, etc.

The intricate disposition of intellectual properties creates room for difficulties if compared to traditional properties like goods, land, etc. Unlike traditional properties, intellectual properties are indivisible. It means that multiple persons can use a particular intellectual property without its value being depleted. Some times, your investment in intellectual properties can suffer appropriation.

A land can easily be guarded by building a fence and hiring armed men to protect. But safeguarding a piece of information can be very difficult, you might find it very hard stopping your buyers from replicating and reselling it.

Intellectual Property law is focused on guarding ownership rights so that the zeal to create intellectual goods will be heightened. For this to be archived, property rights are given to the individuals and businesses that create or own intellectual properties. This rights usually last for a small period.

This right causes the owners to enjoy economic benefits for their properties. It permits people to sell or share their ownership rights legally for profits and business purposes. The economic benefits are expected to inspire innovation and add to the automated progress of states, cities, counties, etc. which is dependent on the length of protection given to intellectual properties.

The congress usually passes intellectual property law, and it is administered by two government agencies, which are the Copyright Office, and The Trademark and patent Office.

Copyright is given for architecture, motion pictures, music, writings, and any original artistic expressions.

Please note that no protection is given for ideas, theories, or anything that is not yet captured in a fixed form, but unpublished works are protected. The use of a date and a copyright symbol is common but not compulsory for qualification. Most copyrights last throughout the inventor's lifetime and extra 70years.

Trademark protects the names, symbols, and slogans you used in identifying your goods & services. The aim is to prevent confusion, misleading advertising, and also enable consumers to distinguish brands easily. Generic marks may not be accepted since trademark right is meant to identify your brand. Trademark rights last forever, and it's obtained by using a mark. Owners can go the extra mile of registering their mark for additional protection, but this is optional.

Patents is given to enable owners of intellectual properties to use their goods in the market, or to make a profit by selling the right to somebody else. Patent rights are for a limited period of 20years depending on your invention. Items that qualify to receive this right include technological improvements, new machines, manufactured goods, product's look, etc. Patent right can be denied if your invention is morally offensive, or not useful to the public.