Intellectual Property Lawyer Virginia

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Virginia Intellectual Property Lawyer

intellectual property lawyer Virginia

Working with a Virginia intellectual property lawyer should be one of your first considerations for your business or organization. Intellectual property is imperative to the success of a business, and ensuring its protection should be one of your top priorities. Dale Jensen, PLC Law Firm, has experience working with business owners with intellectual property they need to protect. Intellectual property is highly valuable, and our firm knows that you will have questions about IP and the process for moving forward. We are happy to answer your questions to make a well-informed decision about what happens next. 

 

How do I know if I have intellectual property worth protecting? 


Some people may not even realize they have IP that needs protection. Not understanding what you have in your possession could impact a business, especially if it is not safeguarded. Working with our firm can be the best place to start. We will review your business and work closely with you to understand any IP you may possess. We will compile your intellectual property and offer guidance regarding the appropriate steps to safeguard it. 


What is intellectual property, and why is it essential for the success of my business? 


Intellectual property is an intangible asset that business owners have in their possession. IP is an invention or work that someone has produced; they include copyrights, patents, and trademarks. These may be written works, logos, symbols, slogans, trade secrets, and more. 


Why is federal registration so necessary? 


Federally registering your trademark, patent or copyright can ensure that your IP is protected and allow for legal measures to be taken should you pursue an infringement lawsuit. Federal registration is something our Virginia intellectual property lawyer can assist with. Federally registering a copyright takes about a month, while registering patents and trademarks can take up to two years. 


How long will my intellectual property be protected for? 


Keep in mind that your intellectual property will only be protected for a limited period. Timeframes can vary depending upon the IP. While a patent will be protected for twenty years, trademarks and copyrights may be protected for a much more significant time. 


Why is an intellectual property lawyer needed for the protection of intellectual property? 


A legal professional with intellectual property experience may be a pivotal component in protecting your intangible assets. Our lawyer will review your business’ IP, value its worth and work to develop agreements to protect it. Additionally, we will make sure that your IP is unique and can work to register it federally.  


Who needs to protect IP?

Whether you have a newly set up business or have been operating your business for several years, staying up to date with the latest IP guidelines and laws can help you keep your business protected, as a Virginia intellectual property lawyer can explain. When you are running a business, IP protection is one of the things that you need to establish. Protecting your valuable original ideas and inventions is highly recommended because there are many people who will take the chance to steal them. With so many schemes to steal your information, you need to be prepared and take the necessary security measures to keep your IP protected. 

What is a copyright? 

As an intellectual property lawyer like one from a top-rated firm can explain, copyrights are one of the most well known and popular kinds of IP that people are familiar with. A copyright refers to original works authored by a person. This includes literary works such as books, plays, articles, and poems. It also applies to graphic works and musical creations such as graphic designs and songs. A highly trusted and competent lawyer can help you determine how to set up your copyright application so that you fulfill all of the steps. 

Do I need to register a trademark? 

There is no law that requires you to register your trademark, but it is highly recommended because there are many benefits to doing so. A registered trademark protects your legal rights and adds multiple layers of legal protection to your ideas and business. It is beneficial in the event of a frivolous lawsuit, and you can establish your ownership rights. A registered trademark also makes your business more valuable and increases the visibility and impact of your brand. While there are multiple steps to formal registration, it is worth it in the long run. A lawyer can explain more about why you should register your trademark.

What is the difference between a trade secret and trade dress?

Trade secrets and trade dress are two key concepts of intellectual property law. While the two are similar sounding, there are main differences between them. A trade secret refers to specific information that a business owner has regarding how a product or idea is formulated or constructed. It primarily concerns the techniques or methodology. Trade dress on the other hand, refers to the complete design or composition of a branded product. This includes the way a product is packaged and its striking visual appearance. It is important to understand how the two concepts are distinguished so that you are familiar with the ways to protect them. 

Why is it important to protect IP? 

If you have IP, take the steps that you need to take in order to keep them secure under the law. A skilled lawyer that you can trust can tell you that any business owner who has intellectual property, or IP, should set up legal protections to keep their IP secure. For more information about affordable legal services that you can achieve do not hesitate to talk to a skilled intellectual property lawyer as soon as you can. When you protect your IP through actions like trademark registration and copyright protection, you will be less vulnerable to outside attacks that threaten to intrude on your ownership rights and harm your business. 


Virginia Intellectual Property Lawyer


Intellectual property is an asset to those who are in possession of a valuable intangible product, which is why it needs to be protected with the help of a Virginia intellectual property lawyer. For many business owners, intellectual property can be foundational to a company’s success. Some businesses have based their entire success around an invention, which at times, is what brings consumers in search of their products. When a person has a new creation or innovation, it’s crucial to safeguard it. This process has several components, depending upon the type of intellectual property the business has. Unfortunately, when proper care is not taken to protect IP, several issues may arise, and in some cases, the invention may be at risk. It’s essential to have an experienced lawyer from Dale Jensen, PLC, to develop strategies to ensure that your creation or ideas are protected. 

Intellectual Property Statistics

According to the United States Sentencing Commission, in 2015 there were 71,003 cases of copyright infringement. To set your business up for success, it’s in your best interest to work with a lawyer who will work tirelessly for you. Dale Jensen, PLC Law Firm, will be your most prominent advocate, ensuring that your rights are protected and your intellectual property is kept under lock and key. Whether you are determining how to protect your IP or are dealing with infringement issues, we are here to help. Start taking control of all you have worked so hard to build by reaching out to our Virginia intellectual property lawyer to schedule your first appointment. 


Understanding the Types of Intellectual Property


Intellectual property is intangible assets owned by a person or company that, when properly protected, ensures that others are unable to use these assets without its owners’ permission. IP can be highly lucrative for businesses because business owners can financially benefit in the long term. Intellectual property can come in many forms and are typically categorized into a few different components. Our Virginia intellectual property lawyer can share that the following are common types of intellectual property:

Trade Secrets: are valuable information that is often by a company and sold to consumers. To protect trade secrets, all involved must sign confidentiality agreements to protect them. Some of the most well-known examples of trade secrets include KFC’s secret recipe, Coca-Cola’s recipe, McDonald’s recipe for Big Mac sauce, and more. 

Copyrights: protect the work of the owner. When a person creates something, they are the owner of the work they have created; however, to ensure their protection, owners must register copyrights. A copyright can prevent people from reproducing, distributing, performing, or showing the work without permission. Most copyrights are created by authors, artists, and those with a creative mindset. Typical examples are music, artwork, books, movies, photographs, and more. 

Trademarks: are words, phrases, or symbols identifiable to a specific brand or company. Trademarks are imperative to companies because they are often why consumers seek goods or services from a business. When someone copies a trademark, they may confuse consumers into purchasing their product under the guise that it is another well-known brand. Common examples of trademarks are luxury brands (Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton), food chains (McDonald’s, Chili’s, Burger King), technology (Apple, Google, Facebook), and more. 

Patents: gives exclusive rights to the person who invented a particular product. Patents can allow a person to make and sell their specific design. The process of patenting can be complicated because creators will want to make sure that their invention has not already been patented before. A lawyer will play a pivotal role in researching patents to ensure that the creation is unique and not currently a licensed patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 


Contact Our Firm


The value of intellectual property can be astounding, and it’s essential to secure it from competitors. Dale Jensen PLC has over 35 years of experience and extensive knowledge of intellectual property laws. To learn more about how our firm can meet your needs, schedule a consultation with our Virginia intellectual property lawyer as soon as possible.

Dale Jensen, PLC Virginia Intellectual Property Lawyer

2027 Woodbrook Ct #2027 Charlottesville, VA 22901

Client Review

“Mr. Jensen was very helpful to me regarding my patent questions. I appreciated his knowledge & patience during our discussion. I’d recommend him very highly!”
David Rutt
Client Review