Protecting Your #1 Asset : Creating Fortunes from Your Ideas Book

	Foreword	xix
	Introduction	xxiii
	Horror Stories--Tales of the Unwary	1
	The Basic Categories of Intellectual Property	9
	Information, Data, and Know-How	10
	Inventions	11
	Industrial Designs	12
	Patents	12
	Utility Models (Petty Patents)	13
	Copyrights	13
	Mask Works	13
	Trademarks, Reputation, and Goodwill	13
	Character Trademarks and Sponsorship	14
	Trade Dress	14
	An Overview of the Basic Protection Mechanisms	15
	Putting It in Perspective	16
	Trade Secret Protection	39
	Scope of Protection	40
	Procedure for Maintaining a Trade Secret	41
	Exploiting Trade Secrets	43
	Special Considerations with Respect to Software Developments	44
	Mass Marketing of Software	46
	Utility Patent Protection	49
	Exclusive Right	52
	Patentable Subject Matter: Applicability to Software Inventions and Business Methods	54
	Abstract Ideas or Information	54
	Natural Phenomena; Things Unaltered from a Natural State	55
	Laws of Nature	55
	Requisites for Patentability	60
	Statutory Bars	60
	Prior Public Knowledge	61
	Premature Disclosure or Sale	63
	Patented	64
	Described in a Printed Publication	64
	Public Use	64
	On Sale	66
	Strict Novelty in Most Foreign Countries	69
	Abandonment	70
	Corresponding Foreign Patent Applications	70
	Actual Inventor	71
	First to Make the Invention	73
	Obviousness	77
	Personal Prior Inventor Defense with Respect to Business Method Patents	78
	The Patent Application	79
	Continuation Applications	80
	Divisional Applications	80
	Continuation-in-Part Applications	81
	Provisional Applications	81
	Contents of an Application	83
1.	Title of the Invention	83
2.	Cross-References to Related Applications	83
3.	Background of the Invention	84
4.	Summary of the Invention	84
5.	Brief Description of the Drawing	84
6.	Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment	84
7.	The Claims	86
8.	Abstract of the Disclosure	87
9.	The Declaration and Power of Attorney	87
	Information Disclosure Statement	87
	Filing the Application with the Patent Office	88
	Prosecution Before the Patent Office	89
	"Patent Pending"	90
	Enforcing a Patent	90
	Remedies for Patent Infringement	92
	Post-Issuance Actions	94
	Reexamination	94
	Advantages of Obtaining a Patent	96
	Ownership of a Patent	96
	Design Patent Protection	99
	Copyright Protection	101
	Copyrightable Subject Matter	103
	Copying Required	106
	The Fair Use Limitation	107
	Playing Background Music and Nondramatic Performances	108
	Practical Considerations with Respect to Software Works	109
	Right to Make Archival and Transitory Copies	112
	Fair Use As Applied to Computer Programs	113
	Publication	113
	Notice	113
	Term	114
	Deposit with Library of Congress	115
	Registration	115
	Procedure for Obtaining a Registration	115
	Enforcing a Copyright	117
	Remedies for Copyright Infringement	120
	Ownership of a Copyright	121
	Trademark Protection	125
	Acquiring Rights	126
	Application Based on "Intent to Use"	127
	The Strength of a Mark	128
	Unprotectable Generic Marks	128
	Descriptive Marks	128
	Suggestive Marks	129
	Fanciful and Arbitrary Marks	129
	Choosing a Mark	130
	"Confusingly Similar"	131
	"Dilution"	132
	"Cybersquatting"	134
	Federal Registration	134
	Principal Register	135
	Supplemental Register	137
	Secondary Meaning	138
	Concurrent Registrations	138
	Registering a Trademark	138
	Contesting Registration: Opposition and Cancellation Proceedings	142
	Trademark Marking	143
	Post-Registration Actions	144
	Term of the Registration	144
	Maintaining Trademark Rights	145
	Practical Considerations with Respect to Software Goods	145
	Enforcing Trademark Rights	146
	Remedies for Infringement	147
	Mask Work Protection	149
	Protectable Subject Matter; Requisites for Protection	150
	Scope of Protection	151
	Notice	152
	Term; Registration	153
	Enforcement; Remedies	153
	Practical Considerations	154
	Comparison of the Protection Mechanisms	155
	The Internet and Your Intellectual Property	161
	Internet Basics	166
	The Physical System	166
	The World Wide Web	168
	Internet Addresses, URLs, and Search Engines	169
	The Domain Name System	171
	Registering a Domain Name	174
	"Cybersquatting"	176
	Trademark or IP Rights	176
	Existing Relationship to the Domain Name	176
	Manner in Which the Defendant Uses the Mark in the Web Site	177
	Trafficking in Domain Names	177
	The Strength of Your Mark	177
	ICANN "Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy"	178
	Procedures	181
	Suggested Procedures for Securing and Maintaining Rights in Technology	183
	Employee Nondisclosure and Non-Use Agreements	183
	Preliminary State-of-the-Art Investigation	183
	Initially Keep R&D As a Trade Secret	184
	Maintaining Documentation	184
	Timely Consideration of Patent Protection	185
	Infringement Clearance Procedure	185
	Keeping Accurate Records of Development	187
	The Need for Keeping Accurate Records	187
	Development and Government Contracts	187
	License Agreements	188
	Confidentiality and Non-Use Agreements	188
	Prior Development	189
	The Two-Step Process Of "Making An Invention"	190
	Record-Keeping Procedures	190
	Preliminary Concept Report Form	191
	Notebooks	191
	Time Records	193
	Conclusion	193
	Suggested Procedures for Securing and Maintaining Rights in Trademarks	195
	Choice of a Mark	195
	Use of a Mark As a Source Indicator	195
	General Rules	196
	Procedures for Avoiding Potential Infringement of Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights	199
	Avoiding Infringement of Third-Party Trade Secret Rights	199
	Avoiding Infringement of Third-Party Patents	200
	Avoiding Infringement of Third-Party Copyrights	201
	Avoiding Infringement of Third-Party Trademark Rights	202
	Avoiding Infringement of Third-Party Mask Work Registrations	203
	Making Sure You Own What You Pay For	205
	Rights Relating to Know-How of Employees	206
	Nonproprietary Know-How	207
	Proprietary Know-How	208
	Ownership of an Invention	208
	Recording of Assignments, Grants, and Conveyances	209
	Ownership of a Copyright	210
	Assignment of Copyrights	211
	Ownership of Rights in Trademarks	212
	Agreements Are the Best Defense	213
	Putting It in Perspective (An All-Too-Real Hypothetical)	213
	Overview and Comparison of Agreements Affecting Intellectual Property Rights and Liabilities	221
	Agreements Regarding Transfers of Rights	223
	Assignments	223
	License Agreements: In General	224
	Patent Licenses	225
	Know-How Licenses	226
	Trademark Licenses	226
	Franchise Agreements	227
	Technical Services and Assistance Agreements	227
	Hybrid License Agreements	227
	Agreements Regarding Internal Relationships	229
	Employee Agreements As to Confidentiality and Ownership of Intellectual Property	229
	Noncompetition Agreements	230
	Agreements Regarding Third-Party Business Relationships	231
	Confidentiality Agreements	231
	Consulting and Development Agreements	232
	Maintenance and Support Agreements	233
	Manufacturing Agreements	233
	Joint Ventures	233
	Agreements Regarding Sales and Market Relationships	235
	Purchase Agreements	235
	Distribution Agreements	236
	VAR and OEM Agreements	237
	Some Basic Considerations in Negotiating Agreements	239
	The Principle of Reasonableness	239
	The Principle of Definiteness	239
	The Principle of Completeness	240
	The Periodic Intellectual Property Audit	241
	Conclusion	243
Appendix	Comparison of U.S. Intellectual Property Protection Mechanisms	245
	Notes	247
	About the Author	273