A certification mark is a distinctive sign, symbol, or word used to officially endorse a product or service that meets certain established standards set by an authoritative entity. The deliverables with this mark assure consumers of quality, origin, material, or method of manufacture.
Computer software that cannot be fully copied by the software tools normally used for such purposes, designed to prevent unauthorized duplication.
Copyright is the protection granted by statute or by the common law, giving artists and authors exclusive rights to publish their works or to determine who may do so.
Counterfeit refers to items or documents that are forged, imitated, or fabricated without authorization, usually with the intent to deceive and pass the imitation off as genuine.
In copyright law, fair use permits the quotation or reproduction of a small portion of copyrighted material (with proper acknowledgment) without the permission of the copyright holder. The permissible amount varies based on several factors, with the central idea being that the use should not significantly impact the market for the original work.
Infringement refers to the violation or overstepping of another individual's or entity's protected rights, including but not limited to intellectual property rights such as copyrights, patents, and trademarks.
Intangible assets represent non-physical assets that hold significant financial value for a company. This article explores their definition, examples, accounting treatment, and related standards.
Intangible value represents non-physical assets that have a significant impact on an entity's worth, such as goodwill, brand recognition, and intellectual properties like trademarks and patents.
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.
Invisible assets, often referred to as intangible assets, are non-physical assets that add value to a company such as intellectual property, brand reputation, and customer relationships.
A knock-off is a low-priced imitation of a name-brand product, often created to mimic the design, style, and overall aesthetic of the original product but made with cheaper materials and sold at a fraction of the cost.
The Lanham Act, officially known as the Federal Trade-Mark Act of 1946, is a foundational statute in United States trademark law that governs the registration and protection of trademarks, trade names, and other identifying markers used in interstate commerce.
A nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is a legally binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship between parties to protect sensitive information from being disclosed to unauthorized third parties.
A patent is a legal grant of exclusive rights provided by a government authority to an inventor or their assignee for a new and useful invention. The patent grants the holder the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the invention for a certain period of time.
The Patent Appeals Court is a specialized judicial body responsible for adjudicating appeals of decisions made by patent offices, primarily related to patent grants, denials, and disputes.
Patent infringement is the act of trespassing upon the rights secured by a patent. It is determined by whether the device in question performs substantially the same work in substantially the same way and accomplishes the same result as the patented device.
A patent monopoly is a government-granted exclusive right to inventors and producers of innovative goods. It serves to encourage research and innovation by ensuring the producer will benefit financially from their successful new products.
A Patent of Invention is a grant of rights provided by a government to an inventor, giving them the exclusive right to exclude others from making, using, selling, and importing the invention for a specified period, typically 20 years from the filing date of the patent application. This right creates a legal monopoly, enabling the patent holder to control the usage of the invention and potentially monetize it through licenses or sales.
The term 'Patent Pending' indicates that a patent application has been filed with the U.S. Patent Office and is currently under review. This status signifies that a patent search is being conducted to determine if the invention is new and patentable according to the law.
Patent warfare refers to the practice of utilizing multiple patents with varied expiration dates covering different aspects of the same invention, intending to block competition post the original patent's expiration.
Piracy refers to the unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of software, digital media, and other intellectual property, which violates copyright laws and results in legal and financial consequences.
Proprietary refers to anything that is owned by a particular person or entity. In the realm of trade secrets law, proprietary information is protected information or knowledge where ownership rights are established and are typically safeguarded by contractual agreements, rather than through patents.
The term public domain refers to all lands and waters in the possession of the United States and the lands owned by individual state governments, which differ from privately owned lands and waters. It also includes all information that is free from copyright protection, making it available for public use without restriction.
A payment made for the right to use the property of another person for gain, often involving intellectual property or natural resources.
A trade name is a name under which a business operates and presents itself to the public. Unlike trademarks, trade names may not necessarily be registered or trademarked.
A trade secret is any formula, pattern, machine, or process of manufacturing used in a business that may provide a competitive advantage; it includes plans, processes, tools, mechanisms, or compounds known only to its owner and necessary employees.
A trademark is a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others. Used by companies to protect brand identity and maintain market presence.
A Trademark is a distinctive symbol or device used to identify and differentiate the products of a particular trader from those of others. Trademarks offer legal protection and can be registered for exclusive use.
The U.S. Patent Office, responsible for providing legal protection to registered inventions, is a critical component of the U.S. innovation infrastructure.
