capturing ideas (an overview of copyright, patents, trademarks and designs)

Capturing IdeasCapturing Ideas

Copyright Douglas B. Thompson

Douglas B. Thompson FOR

BUSINESS VICTORIA

Ideas are like Wild BirdsIdeas are like Wild Birds

You can not sell a Wild Bird without first CAPTURING IT!

Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property

• Means: Property created from ideasMeans: Property created from ideas

Types of Intellectual Types of Intellectual PropertyProperty

• CopyrightCopyright

• Trade MarkTrade Mark

• PatentsPatents

• DesignsDesigns

Ron Green’s InventionRon Green’s Invention

Copyright CapturesCopyright Captures

• Literary works (brochures, Literary works (brochures, instructions, manuals)instructions, manuals)

• Artistic works (photos, illustrations)Artistic works (photos, illustrations)

• Dramatic works (videos, DVD)Dramatic works (videos, DVD)

• Musical works (songs)Musical works (songs)

Ron Green’s BrochureRon Green’s Brochure

Limitations of CopyrightLimitations of Copyright

• Time limitation - life plus 50 yearsTime limitation - life plus 50 years

• expression - not ideas expressedexpression - not ideas expressed

• innocent copying defence - innocent copying defence - copyright noticecopyright notice

Copyright RegistrationCopyright Registration

• optionaloptional

• proof of ownershipproof of ownership

• easier to enforceeasier to enforce

Trade Mark CapturesTrade Mark Captures

• brand names (coke)brand names (coke)

• logoslogos

• slogans (things go better with coke)slogans (things go better with coke)

• ““things” that distinguishthings” that distinguish

Ron Green’s Trade MarksRon Green’s Trade Marks

Limitations of Trade MarkLimitations of Trade Mark

• descriptivedescriptive

• geographicalgeographical

• mere surnamesmere surnames

Trade Mark RegistrationTrade Mark Registration

• optionaloptional

• 15 year term - renewable15 year term - renewable

• Protection across CanadaProtection across Canada

• easier to enforceeasier to enforce

• foreign priorityforeign priority

Patent CapturesPatent Captures

• unique productsunique products

• unique machinesunique machines

• unique chemical compositionsunique chemical compositions

• unique methodsunique methods

• unique organismsunique organisms

Limitations on PatentLimitations on Patent

• stringent reviewstringent review

• newnew

• usefuluseful

• not obviousnot obvious

Prior Art Hot Dog StickPrior Art Hot Dog Stick

Patent RegistrationPatent Registration

• registration requiredregistration required

• 12 month deadline to apply12 month deadline to apply

• foreign priorityforeign priority

• 20 year term - not renewable20 year term - not renewable

Design CapturesDesign Captures

• unique appearance of a functional unique appearance of a functional objectobject

Limitations on DesignLimitations on Design

• different look - different designdifferent look - different design

Design RegistrationDesign Registration

• registration requiredregistration required

• 12 month deadline to apply12 month deadline to apply

• foreign priorityforeign priority

• 10 year term - not renewable10 year term - not renewable

WarningWarning

• a little knowledge is a dangerous a little knowledge is a dangerous thingthing

• this is general informationthis is general information

• how you apply it to your specific how you apply it to your specific idea is criticalidea is critical

Ugly Duckingly vs. SwansUgly Duckingly vs. Swans

• the market will tell you what kind of the market will tell you what kind of bird you have capturedbird you have captured

• not all birds you capture are worth not all birds you capture are worth much moneymuch money