Legal advice

IP types:
- Patents (USPTO)
-Protect the concept
-Able to take it to court (can’t with only copyright)
-Documented registration numbers and rights.

- Copyrights (copyright.gov)
-Right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, perform and display a copyrighted work publicly; © not required.
-Author is the initial owner; ownership can be transferred like property.
-Work made for hire/commissions etc: Employer/company is the author, employee not recognized.
-Protect the expression of the concept
-Automatically protected when effort on a creation platform is saved.

- Trademarks
-Word, phrase, symbol, design that identifies and distinguishes the source of goods/services (brands, logos)

- Trade secrets
-Keeping information from being disclosed publicly (software code, client information, vendor information)
- Contract
- Domain names
- Rights of publicity

Start-ups: Immediate Action
- Identify possible IP assets
- Address ownership issues
- Branding/trademark infringement
- Domain names, online social media accounts

Within 3 months of publication: receive full legal benefits