Intellectual Property

Ideas can be some of the most valuable assets a business owns. Because of this, businesses need to make sure they protect their valuable ideas through copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. The Houston trademark attorneys at Mejias Lindsay PLLC can help you file for protection, prosecute those who infringe on your rights, and defend you from claims of infringement. Some of the types of intellectual property cases we have handled include:

Copyright Infringement

Copyrights cover creative works like plays, music, and novels, but can also be applied to things like software and business manuals. Copyrights give the creator of a work the right control how the creative work is used. Copyrights can be registered at the U.S. Copyrights Office, but creative works do not have to be registered in order to receive protection. Copyright infringement occurs when another individual uses a creative work without the creator’s permission.

Patent Infringement

Patents protect new inventions. Patents can be obtained by filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but certain criteria must be met in order for the patent to be granted. Once a patent is granted, no other individual or company can use the patented invention without the owner’s permission. Those who violate patent rights can face costly litigation.

Trademark Infringement

Trademarks protect a company’s distinct brand. This can include a company’s logo, symbols, words, designs, phrases, and/or names. Trademarks can be registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, but registrations are not required for protection. Violating a company’s trademark rights is a very serious offense that can lead to highly-contested and expensive litigation.

Trade Secrets

Trade secrets involve any device or technique used by a business that gives them a competitive edge. While trade secrets do not need to be registered with any government agency, certain protocols need to be in place for a trade secret to be protected.

Cybersquatting

Cybersquatting occurs when an individual or business purchases Internet domains with the names of well-known brands in the hope of reselling the domains for a profit. The practice of cybersquatting has affected some of the largest and best-known companies in the country, but it can happen to any business. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome cybersquatting and obtain rightful domain names.

Houston Intellectual Property Attorneys

At Mejias Lindsay PLLC, we understand how important things like copyrights and trademarks are to you business. That’s why we’re able to fight aggressively for our clients to protect their best interests. If you are dealing with a trademark dispute or other intellectual property issue, contact us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your situation.