Intellectual Property Laws

Intellectual property laws were established to protect the hard work of inventors and artists and the companies that may have the license to produce their work. Proper registration and protection of your intellectual property is crucial to avoiding unlicensed reproduction or use of your hard work without compensation or acknowledgement.

When looking at intellectual property laws, there are two major branches of intellectual property to consider: industrial property and copyright. California intellectual property attorneys will know the differences and are able to assist you in protecting your intellectual property under these laws.

Intellectual Property Laws for Industrial Property

Industrial property is considered to be any of the following:

  • a patentable invention or process;
  • trademarks;
  • service marks;
  • layout-designs of integrated circuits;
  • commercial names and designations; and  
  • geographical indications.

To protect your industrial property under intellectual property laws you must file for ownership of the patent, trademark or service mark. These applications may involve extensive documentation and paperwork and can be best handled by California intellectual property attorneys.

An invention is non-legally defined as a new solution to a technical problem. Because the invention does not have to be physically represented to be patented, the protection under intellectual property laws is against any use of the invention without the authorization of the owner.

This protection applies even if a person later makes the same invention independently, without copying or even being aware of the first inventor’s work. In that instance, they must obtain authorization of the original patent owner before they can exploit it.

Intellectual Property Laws for Copyright

Intellectual property laws provide protection for artistic and creative works as well under the use of copyright. The following is a small sampling of commonly copyrighted works:

  • books, pamphlets and other texts;
  • transcriptions (audio or text) of lectures, addresses, sermons;
  • choreography;
  • musical compositions with or without words;
  • film;
  • drawings, paintings, architecture, sculptures, engravings and lithography;
  • photographs; and 
  • maps, plans, sketches and three-dimensional works relative to geography, topography, architecture or science.

In some instances, translations of works can also be considered copyrighted property of the translator, as long as proper filing procedure is followed and the translator designates the original author and source.

Intellectual property laws as applied to copyrighted materials govern the following parameters:

  • the reproduction of the material in various forms;
  • the distribution of copies;
  • public performance;
  • broadcasting or other communication to the public;
  • translation into other languages; and 
  • adaptation, such as a novel into a screenplay.

The holder of the copyright has the authority to allow or deny all other entities the rights to the use of their intellectual property.

Hiring California Intellectual Property Attorneys

With both types of intellectual property, the owners must act as their own police when it comes to identifying unauthorized use of their property. If unauthorized use is suspected, California intellectual property attorneys can help verify the claim and assist the rightful owner in having the intellectual property laws enforced.

The California intellectual property attorneys at the ADLI Law Group P.C. have formed lasting relationships with businesses across Los Angeles and Orange Counties and around the globe. Contact us today for experienced help with protecting your trademarks – 213-223-2365.