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Intellectual Property
There are five basic forms of intellectual property that can be protected. three of them are: patents, copyrights, trademarks. However, When a United States patents is issued, the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks acting on behalf of and under the seal of the United States goverment grants the owner of the patent, the right to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention throughout the United States of America. In short, others may not make, use or sell the patented invention without authorization of the patent owner. A patent is limited to a monopoly granted by the goverment for term period of the patent. After the patent expires, anyone may make, use or sell the invention.
A copyright protects writing and artistic works against copying. several classifications of works are specified under the copyright statutes and include, but are not limited to, literary works, dramatic works, musical works, including music and lyrics, computer programs, video recordings, and artistic expressions. Copyrights are directed to forms of expression rather than utility subject matter. The description of an article of manufature or a process, could be copyrighted as a writing for preventing others from copying such a description. However, the copyright will not prevent others from making the article or using the process.
A trademark relates to the identification of a product by means of name symbol that is not descriptive of product , and wich is used in the streams of commerce to identify the source or manufacturer of the product. Trademark rights are based on first use in commerce and will prevent others from sellin similar products using the same name or symbol, or any confusigly similar name or symbol. A trademark will not prevent others from making the same goods or products. A service mark is similar to a trademark except that it relates to the identification of a service rather than a product.