Copyright Law in Saginaw, MI

Trademarks are designed to protect consumers, as well as protect your intellectual property. These laws are in place so that customer confusion doesn’t lead to someone buying a product they didn’t want, or from a provider they did not desire. Any Saginaw residents that desires to protect themselves, as well as their customer base, may want to consider filing a trademark application. One of the surest ways that the application will be filed correctly is to engage the services of an experienced copyright attorney in Saginaw.

What Is Copyright Registration?

Copyright registration offers the author of a piece of work in Saginaw, Michigan some protection from those who try to steal their idea.

A novel creation receives copyright protection when it becomes fixed into a tangible form. Copyright law dictates how to establish this ownership. Additionally, it explains how to register intellectual property or defend against infringement.

Copyright registration is a type of public record for ownership. A piece of work doesn’t require copyright registration for protection under the US copyright law. However, you should register your product in Saginaw, MI with the help of a copyright lawyer, as this can offer you several unique advantages:

• Protects your work against the importation of copies that infringe the registration. Your registration will be recorded with the United States Customs and Border Protection.
• If your work is already registered in the United States, you can proceed with an infringement lawsuit; otherwise, you will have to register it first.
• The IP owner can seek damages and attorney fees if a copyright registration happens within three months of publication (or prior to an infringement claim).
• If a copyrighted work becomes registered outside of the three-month time frame, you may seek actual damages that you lost.
• Copyright registration will identify each public record of its existence. This action puts the copyright protection into public notice for the piece of work that you’ve created and/or own.

What Is a Trademark?

A trademark is a word, symbol, design, or phrase that distinguishes you from another company. Service marks are a type of trademark that a company will use when providing services to the public. Technically, trademarks are a form of intellectual property. It also forms part of the company’s brand, even if they no longer use it.

Here are some of the components that established Saginaw, MI business people and brand owners often trademark:

• Logos
• Symbols
• Product packages
• Name of the business
• Name of the product or service
• Designs

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs provides a breakdown of the application process for Saginaw residents. The first step is to research existing trademarks and make sure you are not attempting to file a mark that is already under protection. Once you have established this, you’ll have to file an application that includes detailed drawings of the mark. As well as any wording or lettering contained within the mark, and at least 3 examples of the mark being used with your business. There is also a non-refundable filing fee. You can file your trademark application online, or in person with the Michigan Secretary of State.

How Long Does It Take to Register a Trademark and Copyright?

Saginaw entrepreneurs could wait as long as 18 months to receive their full trademark protection, according to the USPTO. This is due not only to the backlog of applications filed, but the fact that many applications encounter lengthy processes because of mistakes when filing.

Still, despite the time that it takes, having trademark protection is invaluable for your business. Enforcing trademark rights is what protected the Diamond Match Company from the Saginaw Match Company in the early 1900s. The Saginaw Match Company was illegally producing and selling items that were nearly identical to the previously established brand. If you encounter such a scenario, you may want to seek the counsel of an experienced Saginaw copyright attorney.

What’s the Difference Between a Trademark and a Copyright?

The value of your Saginaw, MI business depends on the assets it owns. It’s important to note that the most valuable assets are not always physical or financial. Your intellectual property counts as assets too. Due to this, if people use those assets without your permission, you can file a lawsuit for infringement.

While trademarks and copyrights protect intellectual property, they cover two different aspects. Copyright registration protects artistic and literary works, such as videos and books. A trademark registration protects brand components. This can be a jingle, a logo, or a mascot of your organization.

Take, for example, if you own a magazine publishing company. You would trademark the logo and the name of your company. However, you would also place copyright protection on all the magazines that you have published.

Work With an Experienced Saginaw, Michigan Copyright Lawyer

Do you have an idea that needs protection under intellectual property law? If so, complete the registration process as soon as possible. There is always the risk that someone else might beat you to it. This eventuality can create complications when the time comes to defend IP rights claims.

An experienced Saginaw, MI copyright lawyer can help you uncover if anyone else has registered a similar idea. If your concept closely resembles another, it might get rejected. Consequently, it is better to find this early than to go through the process only to get denied later. In addition, an intellectual property lawyer will help you to draft critical documents. Or, they can determine the value of the intellectual property that you own.

An intellectual property lawyer also assesses the quality of the assets. They will also look at the number of assets licensed under your name or your business in Saginaw, MI. This evaluation can help to maximize the entire value of all intangible assets that your company has.

Are you ready to tap into our network of Saginaw copyright attorneys  that can guide you through every step? We can even help you connect with an attorney across Michigan state lines. 

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!