Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property (IP) encompasses a diverse body of law, and it is a practice area that Edward Allen focuses on. Whether you manufacture widgets, provide a personal service, or simply use e-mail, IP laws permeate all around you. At Edward Allen, we ensure that our clients know which laws apply to them and how to use them to maximize their businesses’ value.
We offer all new clients a free IP review. During the review, we will work with you to identify any IP assets that you may have, identify what activities you engage in that are governed by IP laws, and provide suggestions on how you can maximize the value of your IP assets and/or change your business processes to best comply with the relevant governing IP laws.
Edward Allen can help ensure that your important IP assets receive the strongest available protection, stop others from using your IP, help license your IP, and more. Contact us today for a free IP review.
Note: IP law is closely connected to our Technology & E-Commerce Law practice, so be sure to read about both.
Patents
Patents protect novel, useful, non-obvious inventions. If you have invented something, contact us early so we can make sure that you do not inadvertently use or describe it in a way that may eliminate your ability to protect it.
Copyrights
Copyrights are created in nearly everything that a person or a company produces. And infringing another person’s copyright is easier to do than most people think.
Trademarks
Trademarks are, generally, words or symbols that identify your company or brand with your product or service. Trademark law requires that you use your mark in commerce before it acquires any protection at all.
Trade Secrets
If you have a formula, device, or other commercially valuable business information that provides you an economic advantage that others do not know about, it may be protectable as a trade secret. Edward Allen can help you determine if your information may be protected as a trade secret, as well as inform you what you must do (and not do) in order to maintain that protection.
IP Licensing
Many types of IP assets can be licensed, including domain names, copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and more. Depending on the type of IP asset, certain provisions may be required as part of the license to maintain IP protection and certain provisions may void the license. At Edward Allen, we know the details surrounding each type of IP license and can help you license, acquire, or transfer your IP assets so that the transaction conforms to the relevant regulations.
IP Enforcement
If somebody is using your IP without your permission, or outside the scope of your permission, Edward Allen can help. We will be able to advise you of your available enforcement options, both in and out of court, and the practicalities involved with pursing each available mechanism.
