Trademark & Copyright Attorney in West Palm Beach
Protection For Your Intellectual Property | Your Intellectual Property Attorney West Palm Beach Florida
Every year, millions of Americans create logos and brands as well as original works, including books, music, research articles, seminars, architectural and engineering drawings, photographs, paintings, website designs, computer software and other forms of creative expression. All of these creations are termed intellectual property and the authorship and origins of such materials should be protected.
Why would you need a Copyright Lawyer West Palm?
A copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law U.S. (title 17, U.S. Code) for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works. For writers, publishers, and musicians, understanding copyright issues is essential. The most important fact to understand is this: merely owning the authorship of a work does not mean the object is fully protected with a copyright. A copyright registration needs to be formally completed to be fully protected.
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of goods of one party from those of others. The purpose of a trademark is to indicate the origin of particular products or services, thereby allowing consumers to associate the quality of goods or services they receive with a particular name. In addition, trademarks also protect the goodwill and reputation that a business develops by using a trademark.
Intellectual Property Infringement – When You May Need A West Palm Beach Intellectual Property Attorney
While all businesses are at risk for infringement, small businesses and individuals are often at a particular disadvantage in the matter of intellectual property rights. The internet has made copying and distributing protected material easier than ever and therefore, it is critical that you understand the basics of protecting your trademark or your work or copyright. There are many laws that govern copyrights and trademarks and understanding the importance of properly copyrighting your works or trademarking your name is vital.
In the unfortunate case of copyright infringement, registration must have been completed prior to an infringement suit being filed in court. It is recommended that the author establish registration within three months of publication of the property. This will immensely decrease the damage and fees that could arise if an infringement case come about.
If you are a business owner, it is important to know your legal rights in order to protect yourself from the theft of your intellectual property. A business attorney at our firm can provide the legal guidance needed in order to be well-prepared to defend yourself and your original works from theft. Without the assistance of one of our capable attorneys, your brand name could be at serious risk of infringement. Infringement is taken very serious in the United States that can even lead to the infringer being placed in jail. It is thus highly important that you take the necessary precautions to protect your work and ensure that you yourself are not unknowingly infringing on another’s intellectual property.
Attorney Spotlight
Elizabeth Smitherman Rivera, Esq.
Stacey L Griffiths, Esq.
Founding partner of Griffiths & Smitherman, P.L. concentrating in the area of Business Law, Marketing and Advertising Law, Trademark and Copyright, Entertainment Law, and Business Litigation.
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