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ARTICLE · 01 OCTOBER 2010

Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
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Have you ever had an idea for a great product that would solve a pet peeve, or just make life easier or more pleasant?

United StatesIntellectual Property
Michele Schwartz
Michele Schwartz
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Have you ever had an idea for a great product that would solve a pet peeve, or just make life easier or more pleasant? Many women have made millions from such light bulb moments. Just consider Spanx®, the patented footless pantyhose empire. Perhaps you should take that epiphany and run with it. In addition to writing a business plan, making a prototype and charming investors, one of the most important aspects of commercializing that idea is to protect any intellectual property associated with the product or concept.

So how do you protect your intellectual property once that light bulb goes on? Consider the three main types of intellectual property protection: patents, copyrights and trademarks.

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