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Zachary W. BehlerIntellectual Property Lawyer, Foster, Swift,Collins & Smith, P.C. zbehler@fosterswift.comGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20171 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
What is IPTrademark A word or symbol that acts as a source identifier for goods or services.Copyright A work of original authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression.Patent A legal right granted by the government of giving the patent owner theright to exclude others from making, using, selling the invention in thepatent.Trade Secrets (1) information (2) that has independent economic value (3) from notbeing generally known or readily ascertainable by proper means and (4)is the subject of reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy.Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20172 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
How Can IP Work for You?Trademarks Protects names, symbols, and phrases used torepresent a company or its products. Microsoft, Nike swooshTrademark law protects product design orpackaging style – known as “trade dress.” Prevents others in your industry from using yourname or goodwill. Identifies your company’s brand and secures the rights tothe name.Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20173 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
TrademarksSecuring Rights Offense: Prevent others from using the mark Defense: Prevent others from stopping your use ofthe mark.Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20174 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
TrademarksHow to Register your trademark State vs Federal / InternationalSelection Process Strong Mark – a very distinctive mark or unique.Strength– Fanciful:– Arbitrary:no dictionary meaningneither describes or relates to goods orservices offered.– Suggestive: describes characteristics of goods orservices– Generic:directly describes the goods or servicessoldGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20175 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
TrademarksSearch & File Comprehensive state and federal search Identifies existing companies in the U.S. using your nameand similar names– Adjust your name or– Pursue registration of the name. File trademark application with USPTO– Takes approximately 12 to 18 months to move throughregistration process.Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20176 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
TrademarksInternational IP Protection Selecting an area of the world Trademark rights are jurisdictionalConsider adopting a distinctive design or logothat can be registered widely throughout theworld Avoid Translation and literacy issuesGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20177 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
TrademarkSearch and Clearance Nearly all countries use a “likelihood of confusion”standard. Utilize search agents that perform common law andregistered rights searches. Engage local counsel in countries where use andregistration is planned.Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20178 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
TrademarkFiling The Madrid Protocol Before and AfterSeek registration in member jurisdictions throughmeans of a central filing system, using: One applicationPrepared in one languageFees paid in one currencyGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 20179 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
International IP ProtectionFiling United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)United States Copyright OfficeChinese Trademark Office (CTO)China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO)China’s National Copyright Administration (NCA)World Intellectual Property Organizations (WIPO)Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201710 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
International IP ProtectionEnforcement of IP ProtectionMonitoring Cease and Desist Administrative or Court Proceedings Customs Protection Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201711 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Copyrights“Writings” or “works of authorship” Expression of original ideas and thoughts in words,sentences, paragraphs, computer programs,sketches, pictures, graphs or other methods ofconveying ideas. (Unlike a patent, a copyright does not protect the idea –it protects the manner in which the idea is expressed).Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201712 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
CopyrightsCreation of Rights Copyright protection exists from time work is “fixedin any tangible medium of expression.”Notice and the year of first publication.TermLife of last surviving author 70 years. Work made for hire: 95 years from publication or120 years from creation, whichever expires first. Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201713 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
CopyrightsWorkplace implications Who owns the rights? Website, manuals, marketing plans, business plans.Who created the work?Joint work?Employee vs. Consultant/Independent ContractorWork-Made-For-Hire– Execute work-made-for-hire before a person outside thebusiness creates copyrightable work.Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201714 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Intellectual Property ProtectionMethodsBusiness Protection Strategies - Today Registration of BrandEmployment AgreementNon-CompeteConfidentiality / Nondisclosure AgreementWork-Made-For-HireAssignmentGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201715 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
EnforcementEnforcement of IP Protection Monitoring Cease and Desist Administrative or Court Proceedings Customs ProtectionGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201716 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
IP Protection TipsWhat can you do right now? Educate employees and business partnersIP AuditCompartmentalize production processKeep newest technologies in home countryClassify information and manage accessGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201717 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
IP Protection Tips – cont’d Conduct due diligence on suppliers and distributorsSelect partners with brand and reputation of their ownto protectInclude IP protection clauses in all contracts andagreementsUnderstand how other country views contractsSend representatives to industry trade shows to lookfor infringing productsRegister your IP in home country and in countries youare or plan to do businessGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201718 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Parting ThoughtsTaking controlProtecting your business identityMaintaining the invisible security fenceGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201719 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Red FlagsShipping product without protectionDistributor without IP clausesJoint Venture without specification who ownspast, present and future IPBrand, Trademarks, Domain ownershipPatent disclosureWebsite screen scrapesGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201720 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Presentation Terms of UseFoster Swift Collins & Smith, PC presentations are intended for ourclients and friends. This presentation highlights specific areas ofthe law. This communication is not legal advice. The informationprovided is current as of the date of the presentation. Thoseviewing the presentation should consult an attorney to determinehow the information applies to any specific situation.Copyright 2016 Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PCGrowing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201721 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Lansing313 S. Washington SquareLansing MI 48933(517) 371-8100 Fax (517) 371-8200Grand Rapids1700 E. Beltline NE – Suite 200Grand Rapids, MI 49525(616) 726-2200 Fax (616) 726-2299Holland151 Central Avenue – Suite 260Holland, MI 49423(616) 796-2500 Fax (616) 796-2520Detroit333 W. Fort Street, 11th FloorDetroit, MI 48226(248) 785-4725 Fax (248) 785-4726Southfield28411 Northwestern Highway - Suite 500Southfield, MI 48034(248) 539-9900 Fax (248) 200-0252St. Joseph728 Pleasant Street – Suite 204St. Joseph, MI 49085(269) 983-1400 Fax (269) 983-1401Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies“Legal Essentials to Export” Toolkit – May 4, 201722 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC
Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies "Legal Essentials to Export" Toolkit -May 4, 2017 1 2016, Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC . are or plan to do business. Growing & Securing Your Business: Intellectual Property Protection Strategies "Legal Essentials to Export" Toolkit -May 4, 2017 19
