 The Difference Is Extremely Important Under the Law!
If you live in the United States you’ve probably seen the TM (™) and R (®) symbols used in everything from advertisements to product packaging. But what do these symbols mean? And which one can you use for your own branding? Both TM and R protect your intellectual property rights in the American marketplace. If you’ve built a strong company reputation or cultivated a market of loyal customers, your IP or brand name could be the most important or valuable part of your business. Both the TM and R symbols signify that the brand name or logo has some level of legal protection.
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 As a business owner, you know how critical it is to build up your brand’s reputation and market recognition. You work hard to cultivate an image that will appeal to your customers. So what happens if someone starts selling products or services under your brand name or logo? What if a competitor copies your product designs or marketing materials? Trademarks and copyrights work to legally stop these nightmare scenarios from happening by protecting your intellectual property rights in different ways. Your intellectual property or brand could be your most valuable asset. We’ve already discussed how important trademarks are to businesses operating on Amazon and beyond. If you don't take steps to protect your IP, your hard-built business faces danger from copycats looking to cheat their way up. Depending on the type of business you have, you may need a trademark, copyright, or both to protect your most important IP assets. But the laws around IP protection are not always straightforward. That’s where a knowledgeable business trademark and copyright lawyer comes in to help simplify and streamline the process. By working with an experienced attorney, you can avoid losing hundreds of dollars and months of time to an incorrect trademark application or copyright registration. Plus, you get to rest assured that you’re taking the right steps to secure the future of your business.  Manayunk Roxborough Art Center located at 419 Green Lane (rear) in Philadelphia is offering a special humanities program, " Sarah E. Holmes - Talk on Copyrights & Trademarks" on Monday, April 21 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Refreshments will be provided.
 Need to register a trademark and a few copyrights but not sure where to start? I'm now offering a copyright and trademark registration package for small business owners.
For a flat fee, I'll perform a trademark search, register one trademark, register up to ten copyrights and advise you on your intellectual property needs! Contact me for details.  A great article ran last weekend in the Philadelphia Inquirer about piracy on the web of artists' images.
If you're a photographer, it's crucial to insert a watermark or other unique attribute into your images when you post them to the web. This will make it much easier to determine when an image has been improperly pilfered by another party and possibly allow you to claim additional damages if the watermark is tampered with. Images can also be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office for $35 each. It's also best to register the copyright before the image or work is released publicly. For example, if you have an art show coming up, register your works within three months of your show to get the best protection. When in doubt, consult with a small business lawyer about what protections you may need. Portlandia- Put a Bird On It In the above episode of Portlandia, the characters mock the phenomena of putting a bird on something and calling it art. If you make products for sale using images that you did not create, there are copyright implications to consider.
Go to a craft show or browse crafty websites and you will find many products for sale using images not created by the seller. If you find a drawing, image, illustration or other picture you'd like to use on products for sale, you need to research the copyright. For example, say you found a drawing of a bird in a recent book. You like the drawing and photocopy it to use on a tote bag that you intend to sell to others. In most instances, unless you can make a "fair use" argument that you are using the copied bird for comment, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, you may have committed copyright infringement. Many non-lawyers will tell you that instead of copying the bird, if you simply cut the image out of the book and use it directly on an object to sell, it is acceptable under the "first sale" doctrine. That is not necessarily true. The original copyright owner also has rights to any "derivative" works using the image. Courts have split under different fact scenarios as to what is a derivative work and when a new work is protected by first sale. Ultimately, it is up to a court to determine what is "fair use" and what is not if a dispute occurs and there are no bright line rules. In considering whether to use images created by someone else in your products for sale, carefully evaluate the copyright considerations and seek legal counsel. |
AuthorSarah E. Holmes is a Philadelphia business attorney and strategist that helps start ups and established businesses looking to expand, protect their assets and increase their profits in an approachable, down-to-earth way. When you're looking for a business lawyer in Philadelphia, the Main Line or New Jersey, we can help. Categories
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