We realize that many entrepreneurs, creators, and inventors may not have a lot of time to research and understand Intellectual Property (IP) law. We created this section of the website to provide some initial information about IP and how to find out more about the IP issues that are relevant to you. We have begun to gather information and resources to answer some of the most common IP related questions. If you have a general IP question* not answered below, feel free to email it to us at updates@iipsj.org.We will continue to update this page as we find new resources and receive new questions.

*Note we cannot provide legal advice but we do include links to organizations that provide free or low cost legal advice.

Intro to Intellectual Property (IP)

The most common types of IP are patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Type of IP Protects A little more information Federal Registration for Protection at
Patents Inventions – rights grant the inventor ownership rights in their invention

– grants the inventor an exclusive right to make, use, offer for sale, or sell the invention

 US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

 
Trademarks the way we identify who made or provides the products or services rights may be used to prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark in commerce in connection with the same or similar products or services USPTO
Copyrights Original works of authorship rights grant the author the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work, to prepare derivative works, to distribute copies of the copyrighted work, to perform the copyrighted work publicly, or to display the copyrighted work publicly US Copyright Office

Learn More:

USPTO

Article: What Are Patents, Trademarks, Service marks, and Copyrights?

Video: Basic Facts: Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights

U.S. Small Business Administration video: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

Check out our Legal Resources page to find free and low cost services to help you with your IP.

Check back for additional information.