Understanding Intellectual Property Law

By Maryl Joop


There was a conflict between NBC and Conan O'Brien in 2010 that ended in the host of the Tonight Show leaving, being replaced with former host Jay Leno. Though NBC and Leno were both highly criticized for essentially forcing O'Brien to leave the network it did happen, and had negative consequences for O'Brien's future.

This consequence was that any idea or product that had been written by him or his writers for his show was under patent as a property of NBC, not Conan O'Brien. Therefore, once he left the network, he would be under contract and law to never use the same jokes again, despite the fact that he wrote them.

One of the most important things you can do to help you find a good lawyer is to check with your work, often, workplaces will have discounted legal services for their employees. Even if they do not offer a discount, there is a good chance that they will have ideas of good lawyers in your area. By asking around, you will be able to find a lawyer that has been recommended by someone you trust. Often, your company will help you with employee assistance programs.

Anything that is capable of industrial application. This is anything that falls under the technological inventions, pharmaceutical changes, or other new ideas that can be applied in different industries.

This is a secret that is protected as it gives a company or individual a comparative advantage in an industry. It gives you the right to exclude others from doing what you have invented. It doesn't give you a right to practice or build what you have protected. For instance, you may have a patent on a fuel injector that increases gas mileage. This does not necessarily mean that you have a right to build a whole car with this injector because you don't have a patent on the car. This is an improvement patent and is much more narrow.

Once you have found a few different options, you should vet them all carefully. This means that you should have a consultation with these lawyers to ask them questions and find out if they are a good fit. Because you may be working with your lawyer for an extended period of time, it is important that you find one you can feel comfortable with.

Whether you are an inventor, singer/songwriter, or just coming up with original content as a writer, intellectual property law is something that you need to understand in order to protect your ideas and to make them work for you in the end. The reason that intellectual property laws were created was to protect individuals from big industries and government and give them ownership over their own ideas and inventions.

As you look for a litigation attorney in Salt Lake City, remember that your lawyer should be someone you can get along with. This may seem like a minor detail, but it is actually extremely important. Having a lawyer you enjoy working with will help you to be more successful overall.

This is the reason that many inventors, artists, and the like turn to intellectual property attorneys in Salt Lake City. These attorneys know the ins and outs of the law and know what it takes to protect ideas and stimulate more for the future by doing so.




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