FAQs
General
What is an Intellectual property right?
An intellectual property right is a legal right that allows creators, or owners, of patents, trademarks or copyrighted works to benefit from their own work or investment in a creation. The term intellectual property itself is now commonly used to refer to the bundle of rights conferred by each of the following fields of law:
1. Patent
2. Trademark
3. Copyright
4. Trade Secrets
What does it mean to own the rights to my property?
To own your intellectual property means that you legally own a collection of ideas and concepts.
Why should I seek legal ownership of my property?
Possessing Legal ownership of your intellectual property makes you eligible to receive compensation for the use of your creation. If your material is used without permission, owning the right to your work will increase the likelihood that you will be compensated if you decide to take legal action.
How can I obtain ownership of my property?
Different countries have different rules and regulations for obtaining the rights to your work. Click the link to your designated region to learn more.
How does Covid-19 affect my intellectual property?
Popularity: Covid- 19 has expedited the world’s transition from physical to digital transactions. The individual entrepreneur has become increasingly relevant due to the rise in unemployment.
Infringement:Illegally downloading copyrighted materials takes up 24% of the global bandwidth, or worldwide internet use. Annual global revenue losses from digital piracy are between $40 and $97.1 billion dollars in the movie industry along.
I secured ownership of my creation. What now?
Make sure your work is protected. T-I-L® offers digital search crawling technology to help our clients identify and receive compensation for the use of their works. In the case of copyright infringement, T-I-L® will connect you with experts to help you get the money you deserve.
What is a “trade secret”?
A “trade secret” is an information, including but not limited to, a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that derives independent economic value or is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Do I need to hire a lawyer or an agent to register my intellectual property rights?
No, you don’t! Any inventor, author, or a trademark owner may apply for patent, trademark or copyright registration. According to the laws, Inventors, authors or trademark owners may prepare their own applications and conduct the proceedings by them-selves. However, patent law is a complicated subject matter which requires technical assistance from various professionals.
Can I own the rights to a work of art that is based on another?
The content that you wish to claim ownership of must be new. This means that no materially identical design must have been made available to the public before the date of submission on your copyright application.
Copyright
What is a copyright?
A copyright is a legal right that grants authors, artists and other creators protection for their literary and artistic creations, generally referred to as “works”. Copyright law protects the authors of original works.
What are the works covered by copyright law?
Works covered by copyright include, but are not limited to: novels, poems, plays, reference works, newspapers, advertisements, computer programs, databases, films, musical compositions, choreography, paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, architecture, maps and technical drawings.
How do I protect my artistic works and apply for a copyright registration?
Copyright is a legal protection given to an original work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression. Thus, there are two threshold requirements for protection—originality and fixation—and a significant limitation—no protection for ideas. A Copyright registration is not mandatory to protect a certain work. An artistic work which is original and fixed in any tangible medium acquires automatic copyright protection.
However, the Copyright Act does provide additional benefits to those who register with the Copyright Office. Copyrights are registered at the Copyright Office. Information concerning copyrights may be obtained from the U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20559, or you may visit their web site.
What are the advantages of copyright registration?
Copyright registration offers several advantages, such as:
Registration establishes prima facie evidence of the validity of the copyright and facts stated in the certificate when registration is made before or within five years of publication.
When registration is made prior to infringement or within three months after publication of a work, a copyright owner is eligible for statutory damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.
Before an infringement suit may be filed in court, registration (or refusal) is necessary for works of U.S. origin.
What can I copyright?
Literary works, Musical works, Dramatic works, Pantomimes and Choreographic Works, Pictorial, Graphic and Sculptural works, Motion pictures, Sound recordings, and compilations.
How long will my copyright last?
Copyrights last for the life of the author plus 70 years after the author’s death.
Can I own the rights to a work of art that is based on another?
The content that you wish to claim ownership of must be new. This means that no materially identical design must have been made available to the public before the date of submission on your copyright application.
Patent
What is a patent?
Generally speaking a patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention – a product or process that provides a new way of doing something, or that offers a new technical solution to a problem.
It is a protection provided by the law for the inventions, improvements or discoveries of a person or entity or for the procedures developed by such person or entity. Patent protection allows an owner to exclude others from making, using, distributing or selling without his/her consent. Protection is granted for a limited period, generally 20 years.
Trademark
What is a trademark?
A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device which is used in trade with goods to indicate the source of the goods and to distinguish them from the goods of others. Trademarks help protect against customer confusion.
What are the advantages of trademark registration?
Federal trademark registration confers key benefits and rights such as:
Constructive notice of the registrant’s claim of ownership of the mark
Nationwide constructive use as of the date of application.
The right to request Customs officials to bar the importation of goods bearing infringing trademarks.
The ability to bring an action concerning the mark in Federal court
The use of the U.S. registration as a basis to obtain registration in foreign countries etc.