Areas of Practice Intellectual Property Your IP is one undoubtedly of your most valuable assets. Managing your IP right and defending against competition, including your trade secrets, is critical to the success of your business. However, it is complex without the help of an experienced lawyer. Copyright It is important to act quickly to copyright your original work. The fast pace of technological advances and ever-changing copyright legislation can make the process confusing without the help of an experienced attorney. Industrial Property When a patent is necessary for an invention, trademark, industrial design or geographical indication that have a technical character, provided that it is new, it involves an inventive step and is susceptible of industrial application under industrial property laws. Trademarks Your trademark helps to distinguish your business from your competitors, capture customer attention, and make your products stand out. Trademarks can convey messages and attributes about your company and your company’s products. Your trademark doesn’t have to be a word. Designs are recognizable regardless of language or alphabet. Service Marks Similar to trademarks, service marks are assets that can be bought, sold, licensed or used as security for business loans. The more the reputation of your business grows, the more valuable your brand will become. Your service mark will never expire as long as you continue to use it in the United States commerce. Patents Simply put, a patent is a type of intellectual property (IP) that applies to an invention and grants a property right to the inventor. There are three categories of patents – utility, design, and plant. To learn more about patents or how to submit an application for a patent to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), please contact DTL for assistance.