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:...
Adidas loses trademark fight with Belgian shoe company
German sportswear company Adidas lost another trademark battle. According to a recent report, an EU court labeled its three-stripe design as "not distinct enough." This comes after a long-running legal dispute between Adidas and Belgian sportswear company, Shoe...
How new businesses fail to protect their IP
Your intellectual property (IP) lies at the heart of your new business. Without it, your business won’t stand out in the market and you will have nothing to differentiate yourself from your competitors. With IP so vitally important, why do so many new businesses fail...
Who owns the IP? For startups, the answer can be complicated.
Startups often look to grow at a blistering pace, taking advantage of the winds of innovation blowing in their sails. While this breakneck progress can be advantageous, there are some risks. That includes the possibility of overlooking some small – but important –...
Global outsourcing comes with intellectual property risks
There are many potential business benefits to outsourcing. It may be cheaper to manufacture a product in a different country, for example. Or maybe a strategic partnership with a foreign business can help open the door to international success. However, introducing...
3 overlooked ways to help protect valuable intellectual property
Intellectual property can be among the most valuable assets a business owns. In many cases, the success of a company depends in large part on effectively protecting that IP. Most people are familiar with the common tools: patents, trademarks and copyrights. Here are...
IP should be a fundamental part of your business plan
There is a lot of potential value in owning intellectual property. Simply possessing IP, however, is only one small piece of the puzzle. In order to fully maximize these innovations, it is important to view them as part of the foundation of your business, not a...
IP strategies are sometimes tax-motivated
In 2013, Uber grew from a $330 million company to a worth of $3.5 billion due to venture capital investments. However, before pursuing the additional funding, Uber’s co-founder decided to do some tax-planning. According to Fortune, the ridesharing company...
