International Intellectual Property Legal Blog
Can plants be patented?
The question of whether or not plants can be patented might seem absurd when you take a walk through the woods and observe trees, bushes, grasses, flowers and more growing in the wild. No one can obtain a patent for those naturally occurring, common plants. Asexual...
Demonstrating ‘reasonable efforts’ to protect digital trade secrets
A business cannot simply claim a piece of information is a trade secret and expect it to receive applicable legal protections. Instead, the owner of this intellectual property must take steps to meet certain criteria. That includes making “reasonable efforts” to...
4 IP questions entrepreneurs should ask themselves
Many people think of intellectual property as gold – inherently valuable, even if the discoverer doesn’t lift a finger. In reality, IP is closer to petroleum. It must be shaped, refined and protected in order to turn it into something of real worth. Entrepreneurs...
The complex intersection of 3-D printing and IP law
Intellectual property law is based, in part, on tracing accountability. When a new product infringes upon an existing, protected IP, you can draw a line from the infringing item to a perpetrator. These connections can be much more difficult to trace when 3-D printers...
What is fair use?
As you conduct business, you must pay attention to the trade secrets that set your business products and services apart from those of competitors in the marketplace. You may be on either side of a potential controversy over intellectual property such as the following:...
Copyright infringement could involve more than direct use
When you imagine a copyright infringement dispute, you might picture two parties: the copyright holder and the party that allegedly used the copyrighted work improperly. However, it is possible for copyright infringement disputes to involve multiple parties. Some...
E-commerce makes pirated IP a bigger problem
In today’s digital economy, e-commerce platforms have allowed companies to reach uncharted territory in sales and market share. However, the downside is that it's much easier for counterfeiters to steal and infringe on those intellectual property rights, too. Sadly,...
New rules for deals with China highlight the need for licensing
International trade is at the heart of the technology industry, but changing tides is the constant price. Handling shifts in the landscape can be a demanding requirement for doing business on the world stage. The equipment used for creating computer components earns...
Who needs to sign non-disclosure agreements?
Knowledge is power. Sharing what you know might be essential for growing your business, but it’s best to keep that information under strict control. Protection can come from carefully drafted agreements, but it’s crucial to know how to apply them. Trade secret theft...
How contracts can protect you when licensing intellectual property
Licensing-for-use agreements can be a boon for business, but owners of the related intellectual property can maximize their earnings with careful consideration of how these contracts are worded. Drafting a strong licensing contract could offer better protection for...
