I love listening to music. I often come across a song that strikes a chord with me and just gets stuck in my head. You become so familiar with the melody you can pick the song out from just hearing a few notes. It’s just this phenomenon that has gotten some songwriters in a bit […]
Widerman Malek Law Blog
Four Biggest Trademark Myths
A trademark has to be registered before protection starts. Although registering a trademark is always a great idea, protection of the trademark actually begins when the symbol or name is first used on the product or service (simply using in marketing materials is not enough). The criteria for protection includes: the symbol must be in […]
Tips to get the most out of an intellectual property license
Licensing your intellectual property allows you to contribute to innovation in a broader sense by allowing others to access your ideas and innovations, and it helps you earn more money on your own innovation. Navigating the world of an intellectual property license is difficult, as you want to strike a balance between your interests and […]
How to Determine if a Patent has Expired
There is not one way to determine if a patent has expired. It takes some research, and if anyone tells you “it looks like it may have expired,” run. They don’t know what they’re talking about. Here are some ways to help you determine if it’s “still alive.” Look at the front page – If […]
Old Patents are Selling like Hot Cakes
There was a time when patents were guarded as treasures and no competitor was ever going to get close enough for a peek. In fact, enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP) laws became a big business and businesses were on the constant lookout for patent thieves. However, there is a twist in the scenario now and […]
Raising the Economy of a Country through Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property (IP) is the hottest commodity that everyone wants to have, since IP is the unique selling factor for any brand that brings in money. You could have a big business with branches from Florida to Las Vegas, but when everybody else sells what you have, then your sales figures will be down. The […]
The Internet and Intellectual Property Theft
Patents, trademarks and copyrights had all settled in over the years and worked very well to protect the objects they pertained to. Business used to be conducted face to face and on a more personal level so there was almost an unwritten code of honor and respect when it came to taking ideas that were […]
IP Security Policy: Pre-Hire
Topics related to intellectual property routinely are neglected in daily business planning and operations (which is surprising given that intellectual property is by far the main value driver in most businesses). Take, for example, the hiring process. Businesses put a lot of time and effort into identifying employment candidates, planning and conducting candidate interviews, and orienting hires […]
Patent: A Tool, Not A Business
A patent in the United States grants an inventor the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing the claimed invention in this country. Such a right to exclude competitors can be a useful business tool. But too many inventors, in my opinion, delay the birthing of an invention-centric business […]
