What can an intellectual property (IP) lawyer do for you? 

The specific duties of an intellectual property attorney may vary, depending on the area of law they work in. Most IP lawyers offer client counseling, intellectual property protection, and help with the enforcement of rights. 

Counseling, Intellectual Property Protection, Enforcement

Attorneys offer counseling to assist their clients in finding the most effective methods for guarding, licensing, and using intellectual property. If a client wishes to register a trademark or copyright, for instance, they would hire an IP attorney. These lawyers conduct searches to locate existing marks that may be similar. Based on that search, they advise clients on whether or not their intended mark will likely encounter an issue during the registration process. 

IP lawyers also engage in intellectual property protection. They handle the processes related to obtaining the most comprehensive form of rights available to their client, such as trademark or copyright registration. This means, preparing and submitting an application on the client’s behalf to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). These attorneys will also address any concerns communicated by the USPTO in reference to an application. They comply with all requests and resolve any issues to ensure a successful registration. 

In terms of enforcement, IP attorneys protect intellectual property owners from infringement. If infringement occurs, the attorney will communicate with the individual or business responsible and attempt to negotiate a satisfactory outcome. If communication with the entity that infringed on a client’s IP does not resolve the matter, then an IP lawyer may file a lawsuit in federal court.  

Intellectual Property Attorneys Can Protect Your Business

Overall, intellectual property attorneys handle various business transactions, and are adept at negotiation, extremely detail-oriented, and possess excellent speaking and writing skills. IP attorneys are especially useful for creators and/or those in need of content protection. 

In our previous article, Trademark Lawyer, we discussed identifying a trademark, completing a search, creating a viable strategy for filing, and if necessary, navigating the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In Register A Trademark, we covered how to select a strong trademark, the benefits of registration, common law rights, cost and timeline, application status, filing basis, and examining attorneys. Our other related article, Filing A Copyright, defines protection with or without registration, the duration of protection, and how to avoid an application rejection. 

Trademark, Copyright, Trade Secrets, Patents

Intellectual property law is incredibly important because it applies to nearly every aspect of creativity and business. Copyright law allows attorneys to protect artistic or creative works like books, songs, paintings, and photographs. If a business is offering goods or services, IP attorneys protect those assets with trademarks. Clients may also use IP lawyers to protect trade secrets. Additionally, these attorneys can handle licensing your protected property so that others are authorized to use it, and they can guard or take action against unfair competition practices. Intellectual property attorneys assist people and businesses with protecting their rights concerning trademark, copyright, trade secrets, and patents. If required, an IP lawyer may aid a person or business in getting compensated for any damages that resulted from infringement. Conversely, these attorneys can step in to defend a business or individual facing allegations of infringement, and in doing so, save valuable time and money. 

As noted in our Intellectual Property article, IP lawyers are often beneficial for online sellers who use platforms like Amazon. Frequently, e-commerce business owners face a disruption to their operations when they are accused of infringement. An intellectual property attorney can help resolve any infringement issues, including challenging and defeating the claims made against a person or business. 

The team at Stockman & Poropat, PLLC is passionate about protecting you and your business. The protection of your intellectual property rights is of the highest importance. If you are considering filing an application for copyright or trademark registration, we can help! If you are an Amazon seller who has issues with a restraining order or claim of infringement, we understand! Contact us today to discuss registration, brand protection, enforcement, defense, contracts, licensing, and more. 

Up next we will be discussing Legal Entity Formation.