Intellectual Property Rights and the Crowdfunding Platform

Crowdfunding, some would say, is the new social networking platform of raising money from people online.  While crowdfunding is a relatively new term and concept, traditional principles of law still apply.  Artists, startups and online creators using this new platform are governed by Intellectual Property principles.

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to the creations of the mind; and most commonly include ideas or inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols that identify your brand, names, logos and/or competitive business ideas or information.  Under this broad umbrella of Intellectual Property, there are generally four categories that govern the use of Intellectual Property:

1. Trademarks
2. Patents
3. Copyrights
4. Trade Secrets

Before pitching or disclosing your concept to an online crowdfunding community to raise money these four categories of protection and the potential resulting consequences should be thoroughly examined.  Failure to do so could result in the inadvertent theft, infringement or forfeiture of your IP rights.  Let's take a deeper look at these four categories. Read More ›

Categories: Copyright, Crowdfunding, Intellectual Property, Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks, Venture Capital/Funding

Supreme Court Holds that a Patent of the Process of Administering a Drug is Invalid

Recently in the case of Mayo Collaborative Services v Prometheus Laboratories, Inc., the Supreme Court of the United States found two patents invalid because they claimed subject matter that was not patentable.  The patents in this case covered processes that help doctors who use thiopurine drugs to treat patients with autoimmune diseases determine whether a given dosage was too high or too low. Read More ›

Categories: Patents

Listen Up - Foster Swift Attorneys Discuss Interplay Between Intellectual Property and Your Business

Intellectual property is a valuable asset for any business.  Recently, on the Michigan Business Network Legal Impact Hour, Foster Swift intellectual property attorneys, Sam Frederick and Zach Behler, discussed the interplay between intellectual property and business success. Listen to podcasts of the discussion:

• Introduction to Intellectual Property
• Trademarks
• Trademarks & Patents
• Copyrights & Trade Secrets
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property Overview

If you have a question regarding intellectual property, please contact one of Foster Swift's IP attorneys. 

Categories: Copyright, Intellectual Property, Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks

Part 3 - U.S. Patent Reform: False Marking Claims

This is the third and final post in a series (Part 1: First-to-File; Part 2: Post Grant Review Proceedings) summarizing the most significant changes created by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the "Act").  As you know, the Act was signed into law on September 16th.  Although hyped as a major change in the U.S. Patents system, the Act does not affect many of the fundamental tenants of U.S. Patent law.

This blog post focuses on: (1) new limitations on false marking claims, and (2) USPTO funding and fees. Read More ›

Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents

Part 2 - U.S. Patent Reform: Post Grant Review Proceedings

As noted in my previous post (Part 1: U.S. Patent Reform: First-to-File), the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act has been signed into law.  The America Invents Act has been sold as "the biggest change in the U.S. Patents System since the 1950s."  The hype, however, is far from reality – as the Act does not affect many of the fundamental tenants of U.S. Patent law. 

This is the second of multiple blog posts that will summarize the most significant changes created by the America Invents Act.  My previous blog post addressed the adoption of a "First-to-File" system.  Today, I will discuss "Post Grant Review Proceedings." Read More ›

Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents

Part 1 - U.S. Patent Reform: First-to-File

On September 16th, President Barack Obama signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act into law.  The America Invents Act has been sold as "the biggest change in the U.S. Patents System since the 1950s."  However, the Act does not affect many of the fundamental tenants of U.S. Patent law and in fact is significantly modified from the bill that originally was proposed. 

This is the first of several blog posts that will summarize the most significant changes created by the America Invents Act. Read More ›

Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents

Intellectual Property: The Basics and Your Business

What is "intellectual property" and why should it matter to your business? At the most basic level, "intellectual property" is one of an organization's most valuable assets. Intellectual property frequently differentiates extraordinary companies from "average" organizations. For that reason, IP must be zealously protected.  IP breaks down into four areas: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Read More ›

Categories: Copyright, Intellectual Property, Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks

Update: Debt Ceiling Debate Stalls Patent Reform in the U.S. Senate

As noted in a previous posting, on June 23, 2011, the America Invents Act (H.R. 1249) passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Senate approved a similar bill in March (S. 23).  However, since the bills were not identical, the issue of patent reform must go before the U.S. Senate again. But what are the chances of that happening anytime soon?  Read More ›

Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents

Patent Reform Bill Passes House

The America Invents Act recently passed the US House of Representatives by a vote of 304-117.  A similar bill was approved 95-5 in the Senate in March.  President Obama has pledged that he would sign a patent reform bill once it reaches his desk.  Therefore, it appears that it is only a matter of time before it is sent to the President to be signed into law. Read More ›

Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents, Trademarks