Does Your Business Need to Register Its Trademarks or Copyrights?

By Rachel Young Fields, published on May 16, 2012, in Business in Savannah.

As e-commerce expands and access to original work on the Internet increases, the need for businesses to protect intellectual property has become increasingly urgent.

Trademarks and copyrights, two distinct forms of intellectual property, are governed by different bodies of law. A copyright protects original works of authorship that have been fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Books, songs, paintings, plays, architecture and computer software, for example, are all eligible for copyright protection. Although a copyright does not protect facts, ideas, concepts, systems or methods, the way these things are expressed can often be protected by copyright. Copyright protection originates in the United States Constitution and is outlined by the Copyright Act.

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Copyright Registration Necessary to Enforce Rights Under Copyright Act

By Rachel Young Fields, published on June 22, 2011, in Business in Savannah.

Although it is true that a copyright is formed at the moment of creation, enforcing that right is impossible without a valid copyright registration from the U.S. Copyright Office.

A copyright is a form of protection for original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works; a copyright does not protect ideas, concepts, systems, or methods. Books, songs, paintings, sculptures, and plays, for example, can all be copyrighted. This grant of protection originates in the U.S. Constitution and is outlined by the Copyright Act.

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The Growing Importance of Brands and Trademarks in Today's Economy

This article discusses the importance of trademarks and trademark protection, particularly in light of current economic trends.

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Protecting Confidential Information and Business Relationships

By Thomas S. Cullen, published on April 2, 2000, in Savannah Morning News.

The labor force is becoming increasingly more mobile, and in today’s market, employees with access to confidential information and contact with customers often leave their jobs for other opportunities.

Given this environment, employers must find a way to protect confidential information and customer relationships and also retain valued employees. There are various pro-active steps that employers can take to limit unfair advantage to their competitors.

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Business-to-Business e-Commerce

Presented at University of Dayton School of Law Eleventh Annual Seminar on Significant Developments in the Intellectual Property Law of Computers and Cyberspace in Dayton, Ohio, in June 2000 by Diana J. P. McKenzie.

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