NOTE: While this is a general guide to follow, there are quirks and minor details not covered below. It’s also important to know what the umbrella term of “intellectual property” means, as it can refer to copyrights, trademarks, and patents, or any combination of the three. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, “intellectual property” is defined as “creations of the mind: inventions; literary and artistic works; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.”

TRADEMARK

A trademark protects a symbol, word, slogan, design, name, and/or image that identifies the source of goods or services. For example, the smiling face logo of Wal-Mart is trademarked, as is the slogan “Save Money, Live Better.” Owning the trademark is basically a notice of ownership that the public can see. Registered trademarks are the ones that can use the ® symbol to defend their work.

If you own a trademark and see somebody using it without permission, you can sue for infringement. However, this only applies to the country you’ve registered the trademark in- if it hasn’t been registered there, your legal rights are much less powerful. A trademark is valid for an unlimited amount of time, as long as it is used in commerce, but must be renewed every 10 years or it lapses.

Of additional note is the term “service mark.” This is for the slogans, symbols, logos, and words associated with a service, not a place to purchase goods. Ronald McDonald and other icons associated with McDonald’s are protected under service mark.

PATENTS

Patents are for inventors and designers. Machines, chemical combinations, specific processes, or even the design of a product can be patented. Unlike trademarks and copyrights, it cannot be renewed. When the twenty-year patent term expires, the item in question becomes part of the public domain. However, during that time, the owner has the right to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention.

While many items that are patented remain under the protection of their creator, others may choose to sell them to companies and enjoy royalties from the sales. The company takes over the ownership of the item and most of the sales, while the inventor gets a base sum after selling the item and small payments with each purchase of the product.

Patents and trademarks are both served out of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, at least in America. There are also three types of patents you can apply for: a design patent, a plant patent, and a utility patent. Each variety has its own paperwork and system to filing.

COPYRIGHTS

This applies to the work of many creative types.  Copyrights are automatically granted upon creation of an original work. Artists, choreographers, musicians, authors, architects, and other creative professionals also can register a copyright for their work. However, the work must be in a tangible state; it’s impossible to copyright just an idea. Some copyrights are part of a larger trademark. For example, the video game Overwatch and its logo are trademarked to Blizzard, but the mascot character of Tracer is copywritten.

Also, much like a trademark, a copyright is a public notice of ownership. It’s legal evidence that can be used to sue those who infringe upon your work, so long as the paperwork is in order. A copyright never has to be renewed and is valid for life various terms, depending on whether or not the work is for hire. If not for hire, the current copyright duration is for the life of the creator, plus 70 years.

Within the United States, the Copyright Office is part of the Library of Congress. Most copyrighted works are subject to the Fair Use doctrine, or how said products can be used without permission in the public domain. Parodying a song or showcasing footage of a video game in a review is allowed under Fair Use. Uploading an entire movie to YouTube for others to watch for free, on the other hand, is not. This has been the source of some controversy lately as the definition of Fair Use evolves and shifts.

Again, this guide is by no means all-encompassing. There are many details that weren’t covered in the above descriptions and you should not consider this legal advice. Nevertheless, hopefully, you understand the basic differences between ©, ®, and now and what types of protection are available.

Now that you were able to learn about trademarks, copyright, and patents you hopefully have a better understanding of where to head next on your inventors’ journey.  Not sure about what steps to take next? Check out our inventor quiz to help you learn what kind of inventor you are!

The post Copyright, Patent, and Trademark: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Davison.

You have a goal in mind. You dream about it. It’s a nagging thought. It’s always on the top of your mind. It’s a constant; but, can it become a reality?

We all have dreams and aspirations; however, it takes desire to turn them into reality.

As the popular saying from Eric Thomas goes, “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.”

In the invention industry, desire is what sparks the fire; it’s what helps a person persevere despite the ups and the downs of the process. Desire keeps an idea person excited and willing to proceed with their dream, urging them to  do what it takes to make it a reality.

Desire is fueled by your why. Everyone’s why is different and that’s what makes it unique. What fuels your desire to relentlessly chase after your dreams? What’s the driving force behind why you want this product to succeed?

For our CEO and founder, George Davison, his why was fueled by failure and his story of passion and desire has become a great example of how to fail forward.

For some, failure is the end of the road. For others, like George Davison, it was a chance to find an alternative path.

“Nothing happens without establishing a deep desire inside of you. Your first quest should be to understand yourself and what you desire to accomplish,” said Mr. Davison. ”

Desire is in the driver’s seat of the invention journey, but before the gas can be applied, you have to determine which map you’ll follow, how you’ll handle roadblocks and how you’ll navigate the unbeaten path.

“Desire… it is the single most important step if you choose to be an innovator, inventor or entrepreneur,” said Mr. Davison.

Will your desire burn strong and bright enough for you to submit your invention idea, today?

Copyright Davison, 2016

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So, how could someone have an excuse for not at least trying to be innovative? 

We found 100 lame excuses that people give to NOT innovate!  We’ve picked 15, but you can read the entire list here!

Heard any of these before?

1.  It’s an idea too far ahead of its time.

2.  We’re in a down economy.

3.  I’m getting close to retirement.

4.  I’ve never done anything like this before.

5.  I’ve tried before and failed.

6.  I’m not sure how to begin.

7.  Maybe next year.

8.  I’m just not the creative type.

9.  I’m not good at presenting my ideas.

10.  I don’t have the time.

11.  We’re not in the kind of business likely to innovate.

12.  No one, besides me, really cares about innovation.

13.  I won’t be able to get enough resources.

14.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

15.  Nothing ever changes around here.

What excuses will they think of next?!    Read all 100 excuses here – they even included ways to move beyond the excuses at the bottom of the page!

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