Kelley Keller (@KelleyKeller) is an Intellectual Property Attorney & Education, and founder of The Keller Law Firm. She’s also the creator of Innovation to Profits, an online educational resource for anyone with creative, valuable ideas.
This legal-focused conversation discusses the types of IP, how portfolios must be handled, competition in the age of the Internet, Fair Use, and other legal matters important for creative pros in business.
Show Notes & Links
F.U.D.Intellectual Property, a definitionIP is “controlling the movement of knowledge throughout the marketplace” ← Click to TweetTypes of IP: Brand Names/Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents, Trade SecretsThe Coca-Cola formula, the world’s most famous Trade SecretThe Portfolio, a body of work for a creative proWork-for-hire relationship (common for employees)Employer owns the work, employees need permissionNon-compete and non-solicitation agreements are governed by Employment Law, at the State level“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” ← Click to TweetBrand XAs for your original logo, you have responsibility to protect and to policeThe Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and its Takedown NoticesThe US Copyright Act of 1976 says, essentially, the moment you create something, you own the copyright (assuming it’s copyrightable (original, independent, etc.)) The difference between a “trade name” and a Trademark. The trade name is the legal name of your business at the State level; Trademarks are marketplace identities, and must be cleared on the Federal level. 1099 and W-9 forms, Tax forms for outside contractorsNissan Motors v. Nissan ComputerCaptain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine The Hulk And The Flash CombinedApple Computer v. Apple Corps Records aka “Why aren’t the Beatles on iTunes?”US Olympic Committee v. Olympic GyroColleges Tell High Schools Logos Are Off LimitsAgents and officers seize more than $4.8 million in fake NFL merchandise and seize 307 websites during ‘Operation Fake Sweep’Washington Redskins Mascot ControversyWashington Redskins Change Their Name To The D.C. RedskinsRedskins defend name, ask federal court to overturn trademark decisionUSPTO Design CodesLady Gaga stole the song “Judas”, claims singer/songwriterTools
USPTO.gov, the website for the US Patent & Trademark Office, where you can do a search.Behance, which hosts portfoliosCopyright.govTechniques
Be proactive with new contracts and agreements; get an attorney to review Set up Google Alerts for brands/trademarksHire a junior staffer to search for your brand onlineGet The Episode
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