Articles
A summary of the four types of intellectual property
Intellectual property refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, logos, literary works, and secret recipes. There are four main types of IP in the U.S.: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Although navigating between them can be confusing, each one is a legal protection for something different. Below is a table that summarizes the main differences. Keep in mind that for your specific situation, you should speak to an attorney to determine what protections or remedies apply to you—contact us to discuss your options.
Why it’s important to register your copyrights
Under the Copyright Act, copyright automatically exists for “original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression.” When an artist paints on a canvas, an author types a novel using a word processor, or a singer records a song as an mp3, each of them obtain a copyright in their works at the moment of creation. So if copyright already exists, why bother registering the copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office?
Can I register copyrights to protect my NFT images?
NFT creators need to be careful about protecting their project’s IP. Copycats drag down the value of a brand and confuse consumers. Can creators register copyrights in their NFTs to protect themselves?
Supreme Court grants Warhol petition seeking clarification on fair use
Today, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, a case pitting the famous artist’s foundation against the photographer of a photo of the musician Prince. The Court’s decision is likely to have big implications for copyright law’s “fair use” doctrine.