BUL 4421 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Trademark Dilution, Limitations And Exceptions To Copyright, United States Patent And Trademark Office
Document Summary
In some cases it may exceed the value of physical, tangible, assets: patents-gives inventors right to exclude others from making, using or selling their invention. First person to invent, not file, gets protection. Protection begins on the day it is filed. After 20 years it enters the public domain. In most patents are licensed and users are charged royalties: trademarks- distinctive mark thar affixed goods to its producers, ie. nike swoosh, toyota symbol. It is so that the product does not get confused from other manufacturers. Trademark must be registered w trademark office (uspto) if it should be protected. Suing against someone using the trademark is asking for money for losses and a court order to make someone stop using the mark. Lanham trademark act established that noncompeting goods/services can use each other"s trademarks btu this changed in the trademark dilution act of 95: trade secrets-ie. coke"s secret formula, copyrights-intangible right est. by copyright act of 76.
