PATENTS, TRADE SECRETS AND TRADEMARKS

Patents are one of a class of intellectual property rights i.e. rights to intangible property. These are patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and seeds. Each right differs from the others primarily in the type of property it protects, how it is obtained, and the length of protection ... 

The term trade secret is well understood by U.S. courts and is a legal term. In general, the U.S. courts have strongly upheld the protection of company- or individual-owned trade secrets. Cases against ex-employees or others who have obtained trade secrets by stealth are relatively easy to prosecute (compared to patent, trademark, or copyright infringement cases). 

Barriers to Imitation How is the idea protected from imitation by competitors Is it protected by intellectual property law through patent, copyright, or trademark If not, is it difficult to imitate by its nature How so Is it difficult to reverse engineer Is it protected as a trade secret Are there unique, exclusive sources of components or other supplies Are unique labor inputs required to develop, maintain, support, and extend the product or service ... 

Infringement -of copyright [COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS - COPYRIGHTS] (Vol 7) -of patents [PATENTS AND TRADE SECRETS] (Vol 18)... 

How acquired Originally discovered and claimed - then conveyed by deed Originally invented, authored or conceived and protected by obtaining patents, copyrights, trademarks, or maintaining as trade secret... 

There are three main types of intellectual property that are relevant to the R D Manager in a chemical or pharmaceutical company. These are inventions in the form of Patents, the company Trademarks, and Trade Secrets, often called Know-How. 

While the group knew that Dow possessed an array of other intellectual assets (such as know-how, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets), it reasoned that patents was an area in which it had a high probability of success, could demonstrate obvious value, and implementation of its new processes could be done quickly. 

Patents belong to class of property that is referred to as intellectual property. Intellectual property also includes trade secrets, trademarks, registered designs, and copyrights. 

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