Intellectual Property
Protect your work from copycats. Learn the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents so you can safeguard your intellectual property.
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Court Confirms Architectural Drawings Protected by Copyright
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the authors of “original works of authorship” fixed in a tangible medium of expression. The U.S. Copyright Act identifies several categories of copyrightable works, including literary works, musical works, motion pictures, and other audiovisual works, and pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.
· 3 min read
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Copyright Law's First Sale Doctrine
In early 2013, the United States Supreme Court decided a case involving a longstanding principle known as the first sale doctrine, which allows the owner of a lawfully made copy of a copyrighted work to sell or otherwise dispose of the possession of that particular copy, without the authority of the copyright owner. The doctrine is codified in §109 of the Copyright Act of 1976.
· 3 min read
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Social Media's New Intellectual Property Challenges
Sharing your photos online can be problematic—especially if you are hoping to retain your rights to credit and royalties. Photographer Daniel Morel learned this the hard way when his dramatic photos of the Haitian earthquake went viral—credited to someone else.
· 3 min read
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The Pros and Cons of Registering Photo and Music Copyrights as a Collection or Group
For a prolific artist, photographer or musician, trying to register a copyright for each creative piece separately can be expensive and time-consuming. The option to protect entire collections of work as a group offers enticing savings in time and cost. But this option comes with important restrictions every artist needs to be aware of.
· 5 min read
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Your Startup's Most Valuable Asset Is Its Intellectual Property
As a company grows and expands, its most valuable intellectual property may not reside in any of the specific technical features but rather in the brand that users associate with the service: the company's trademarks.
· 3 min read
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Lessons from Her Grandmother: Attorney Mary Beaghler Penn on Life, IP, and Branding
For the past five years, Mary Beaghler Penn has been helping LegalZoom customers protect and defend their brands, and register and maintain their trademarks and copyrights. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Mary about some of the major influences in her life, her focus on intellectual property issues, and why she feels business owners need to take steps to protect their brands.
· 6 min read
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Who Will Inherit Your Intellectual Property?
Intellectual property can be a valuable asset, yet many people don't include it in their estate planning. Find out about the types of intellectual property that should be incorporated in your estate plan, and how to get started.
· 3 min read
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How to Copyright Digital Media
Registering your copyright is how you get the full protection of the law for your creative works. Find out more about how to register your copyright with the US Copyright Office.
· 3 min read
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How to Copyright Technical Drawings
You can protect your technical drawings and blueprints with a copyright. Learn more about how to register your copyright, why it is important to do so, and more.
· 3 min read
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How to Copyright a Building
Original building designs created in any tangible medium of expression can receive copyright protection as architectural works.
· 3 min read
