You have a business idea and want to make it happen. You’ve figured out how you’re going to
make money, how much money you will make and now you’re ready to start selling your
product or service.
But wait! There are some things that you might not have known while running your business.
Your customers may be using your product in ways that you never imagined. They might be
modifying it or doing something completely different than what you intended. And guess what?
They probably won’t ask for permission first.
This is where patents come in handy. If someone uses your invention without your permission
and it causes damage to your business, then you have a legal case against them for patent
infringement.
The good news is that patents are relatively easy to get if you know what you’re doing and there
are plenty of resources online to help explain everything from filing fees and other costs
involved.
1) You don’t have to be a writer or musician to own copyrights. In fact, most people don’t realize
that they can own copyright interests in their own work. For example, a blog or website is
copyrighted as soon as it’s created (which may be before it’s published).
2) The government doesn’t protect your copyright interests. Instead, the government registers
copyrights and then charges fees for doing so. It’s up to you to enforce your rights yourself
through lawsuits against infringers or other means (such as cease-and-desist letters).
3) You can own copyrights on your work even if you don’t register it. Some people wonder
whether they should register their copyright interests before someone else does so. The answer
is no: As soon as an original work exists in tangible form (such as a book manuscript or song
lyrics), it’s protected by copyright law even if there’s no registration. 4) Copyright infringement
can cost you money and time. If someone steals your work, they may not only have to pay you
damages but also give up any profits earned from their use of your intellectual property. In
addition, filing lawsuits can be expensive and time-consuming.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve no doubt encountered plenty of things in your business that
you didn’t know about.
And if you’re not an entrepreneur, I’m sure there are still a few things about running a business
that you don’t know yet.
Let’s go back to the basics about royalties, property rights and othercopyrights
