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