Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference

by Richard Stim Attorney

Overview

A plain-English guide to intellectual property law

Whether you are a creator or a business that deals in intellectual property, understanding the laws that govern your work is critical to success. Nolo’s Patent, Copyright & Trademark is a comprehensive reference on the four branches of intellectual property law:

Part 1: Patents

Part 2: Copyrights

Part 3: Trademarks

Part 4: Trade Secrets

Each part includes an overview, definitions, and forms for that branch of intellectual property. The overviews include concise explanations of the law and highlights of major developments in the law (court cases, legislation, regulations) since the previous edition, The definitions make up an excellent glossary of intellectual property terms. The forms sections include helpful explanations of registration forms and many sample forms. 

The 18th edition is completely updated to include the latest Supreme Court decisions in intellectual property cases, new regulations and guidance from the USPTO and the Copyright Office, and the impact of AI on intellectual property law. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413331684
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	04/30/2024
Edition description:	18th ed.
Pages:	704
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Attorney Richard Stim specializes in small business, copyright, patents, and trademark issues. He is the author of many Nolo books, including Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business, Patent, Copyright & Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk Reference, and Profit From Your Idea. Stim regularly answers readers' intellectual property questions at Dear Rich: An Intellectual Property Blog.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part 1: Patent Law . Patent Law: Overview . Patent Law: Definitions . Patent Law: Forms . Patent Application Basics . Preparing a Design Patent Application Part 2: Copyright Law . Copyright Law: Overview . Copyright Law: Definitions . Copyright Law: Forms .Preparing a Copyright Application .Preparing an Electronic (eCO) Copyright Application .Preparing a Traditional Print Copyright Application Part 3: Trademark Law .Trademark Law: Overview .Trademark Law: Definitions .Trademark Law: Forms .Preparing a Federal Trademark Application .The Trademark Application: the TEAS System .Example of a TEAS Plus Application Part 4: Trade Secret Law .Trade Secret Law: Overview .Trade Secret Law: Definitions .Trade Secret Law: Forms .Preparing a Nondisclosure Agreement Index

Interviews

Welcome to the world of intellectual property.

Writers, inventors, and artists transform ideas into tangible property. When this property qualifies under law for protection it’s known as intellectual property (or IP)—for example, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Despite what some attorneys may tell you, intellectual property is not an inscrutable discipline.

Anybody can understand the basics. This book is proof that IP law is not a mystery. For over 15 years, engineers, scientists, businesspeople, academics, and attorneys have used this book as a reference for understanding basic patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret principles. This helpful desk reference has evolved to include hundreds of definitions, statutes, forms, and bits of how-to information about protecting and preserving intellectual property.

So before you pick up the phone to call an attorney, check out this book. It may save you time and money … and it will hopefully make your job easier, your employer more secure, and your business more prosperous.

Editorial Reviews

"A clear overview of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret law." Houston Chronicle

"Provides an overview of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret law, as well as hundreds of definitions of related terminology." Orange County Register

"This book provides clear, plain-English definitions of intellectual property terminology, including [those] spawned by the Internet." Popular Mechanics

From the Publisher