Intellectual Property

Questions to Consider

Consider these questions while reading this module:

• What is intellectual property?  Why does the law protect it?
• What rights do trade secrets, patents, copyrights, and trademarks give their owners?
• What are trade secrets and what must a business do to protect them?
• What are the requirements for patenting an invention? 
• What is patent infringement? 
• What remedies are available for infringement?
• What "writings" can be protected by a copyright?  How?
• Must copyrights be registered to be protected?
• How long does copyright protection law?
• What types of unauthorized use may be protected as "fair use?"
• What types of marks can be trademarked?
• What are the penalties for trademark infringement?
• How long is a trademark protected?  Is it still protected if it's regarded as "generic?"  Why or why not?
• How are domain names like trademarks?
• How does the Anti-Cybersquatting Act protect domain name holders?