An intellectual property lawyer or attorney specializes in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Intellectual property (IP) rights protect intangible objects, such as inventions, intellectual works or trademarks. Depending on the country, these rights are governed by federal, state and international laws.
An intellectual property lawyer is an expert in the various fields of intellectual property law: patent law, trademark law, copyright law and design law. Thus, they are able to help their clients protect their ideas and creations against potential infringements. For example, an intellectual property lawyer or attorney can help a person or a company to file a patent or a trademark. They can also assist a client in the management of their copyrights. Finally, the lawyer specialized in intellectual property can take the necessary measures and act if necessary to prevent infringements.
One of the main services provided by a lawyer or attorney specialized in intellectual property is the filing of a patent application. A patent gives its holder exclusive rights to exploit an invention for a period of 20 years. The lawyer specialized in intellectual property will then be able to help you to establish a general and global strategy of defense of your invention in order to ensure it is protected.
Another service that can be provided by a lawyer specialized in intellectual property is the registration of a trademark. Just like the patent right, the trademark right refers a control of possible exploitation of the sign. The trademark is a distinctive sign allowing to link products or services to the company from which they originate. The lawyer or intellectual property attorney can help a person or a legal entity register a sign as a trademark and then defend this trademark against infringements.
In addition to assisting in the creation of a trademark or patent right, an intellectual property lawyer can ensure that the right in question is respected. For example, an intellectual property lawyer will be able to negotiate a license agreement for an intellectual property right, to act in case of infringement and to help a person in the legal sector this copyright, etc.
Finally, an intellectual property lawyer can provide advice and guidance to clients on how best to protect their intellectual property assets. They can help clients to understand the various aspects of intellectual property law and provide advice on how to best protect their ideas, designs and inventions from theft or misuse.