Especially in the early stages of launching your business, intellectual property is likely the most valuable asset you can possess and maintain as an entrepreneur. After all, your original ideas and creative works are what will make your business unique and competitive, and thereby stand out to prospective consumers. Otherwise, if you do not secure these intangible assets, third parties may jeopardize the success of your business operations before you can even get it off the ground, so to speak. This blog exclusively covers the practical steps entrepreneurs can take to protect their trademarks and copyrights. Without further ado, please read on to discover how a seasoned Essex County, New Jersey intellectual property lawyer at The Ingber Law Firm can guide you through every stage of your startup company’s growth.
As an entrepreneur, what types of intellectual property should I use?
To reiterate, two of the most important types of intellectual property an entrepreneur should apply for, retain, and utilize are trademarks and copyrights. For starters, your trademark may work to protect your brand’s identity, which is most likely established through your creative name, logo, slogan, product packaging, etc. More specifically, with a registered mark, you shield competitors from using confusingly similar branding.
What’s more, you should confirm your intended trademark’s availability before launching your business. Simply put, you may create serious confusion amongst your customers, not to mention incur a financial hit from unusable marketing and packaging, if you are forced to rebrand afterwards. Plus, filing an intent-to-use application from early on may help you secure social media handles that are compatible with your brand, not to mention consistent listings on Amazon, Shopify, and other online seller sites.
In a similar sense, your copyright may reserve your business’s creative content. So, instead of the brand itself, it safeguards your unique website copy, product photography and videos, marketing materials, and much more. As an entrepreneur, you likely already know how critical advertising is for driving traffic to your business, converting prospective consumers to actual customers, and maintaining the trust of your returning customers. And with official registration, you may gain the legal right to sue potential, future infringers that may ruin this for you.
As an entrepreneur, what types of contracts should I have to protect my intellectual property?
Specifically for trademarks, entrepreneurs are encouraged to establish brand licensing agreements to prevent ownership disputes down the road. With this, you may permit another party to use your logo and brand name in a way that may drive exposure and revenue for your startup business, but only under strict parameters. For copyrights, entrepreneurs may need to enter copyright assignment agreements with freelancers so they may clarify that this was a work-for-hire assignment and that they ultimately retain ownership of the final product legally.
With all that being said, please do not hesitate to work together with a competent Essex County, New Jersey intellectual property lawyer. The team at The Ingber Law Firm will have your best interests at heart always and will fight for justice to reign in your favor.