I Think I Understand IP, But Can You Give Me An Example?

Intro to TMs
Written By Justin Powley
Cartoon of a stick figure, a sad dog, and a steaming pile of pet waste, with a drone flying away saying “COME BACK HERE!” — representing an example of intellectual property protections for a pet waste–collecting drone.

In a previous post we discussed the four types of intellectual property: copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. While each type of intellectual property is separate and different, in the real-world intellectual property works together to provide protection to people and businesses.

For example, let’s say you have an idea to create a revolutionary new drone that picks up pet waste after careless pet owners “forget” while on a walk. The invention of the drone may be protected by a patent. An instruction manual with instructions on how to operate the drone may be protected by a copyright. A top-secret process for manufacturing the drone may be kept confidential as a trade secret. Finally, you decide to come up with a brand name to sell the drone. The brand name may be protected as a trademark.

Want to learn more? Check out our Introduction and posts on Sound (Non-Traditional) Marks and Shape (Non-Traditional) Marks.

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Justin Powley
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