How To Protect and Commercialize Intellectual Property

HOW TO PROTECT AND COMMERCIALIZE
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101
MARS DISCOVERY DISTRICT
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2010

ARSHIA TABRIZI

B.A.SC. COMPUTER ENGINEERING (HON)
JURIS DOCTOR
MEMBER OF ONTARIO & CALIFORNIA BARS

WWW.TABRIZILAW.COM
ARSHIA@TABRIZILAW.COM

Lawyer Joke
3

Copyright 2008, 2009. Tabrizi Law Office Professional Corporation. 2/3/2010

About Us
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  Tabrizi Law Office P.C.
  BITlaw – Business, IP, Technology law
  Newsletter: email bitlaw@tabrizilaw.com
  Tech Start-ups, SME’s, Multinationals (IP/Tech)
  Corporate Organization, Stock Options, Shareholder Agreements
  Venture Capital Financing
  Acquisitions and Exits
  Intellectual Property Law (Trademarks, Litigation)
  Technology Transactions (Licensing, Distribution, Partnership
Agreements)
  Internet Law (Terms of Use, Privacy Policy)
  Contact:
  arshia@tabrizilaw.com
  416.510.2600 x.306


Why Do We Care About IP?
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  What is your business?
  Innovation
  What do you have to start?
  Idea
  Intangible Asset

  Protect It

  Exploit It

  “IP” It


How Do I “IP” My Ideas?
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  Don’t share them with the world
  Talk to a qualified lawyer
  Pay attention to this lecture


What Will You Learn about IP?
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  What is IP?
  How do I Get IP?
  How do I Keep IP?
  How do I Use IP?
  What are the Pros and Cons of IP?


IP #1 – Trade Secrets
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  What is a Trade Secret?
  A Trade Secret
  Formula
  Program
  Device
  Process

  Business information
  Business Plan
  Customer list


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  How do I Get a Trade Secret?
  Don’t Steal It


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  How do I Keep a Trade Secret?
  Keep It Secret
  NDA It
  Secure It
  Mark It - “CONFIDENTIAL”


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  How do I Use It?
  Stealth Mode
  Competitors in Dark
  Get Information
  Get Funding
  License It
  Franchise It


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PROS CONS

 Nobody Knows  Oops
 Secret Forever  Reverse Engineering
 Enforce
 Patent


IP #2 - Patents
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  What is a Patent?
  Invention
  New

  Not Obvious

  Utility

  Product
  Process
  Machine
  Composition of matter


IP #2 - Patents
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  What is a Patent?
  NOT an Idea
  NOT a mathematical formula
  NOT a method of medical treatment


IP #2 - Patents
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  How do I Get a Patent?
  Search Patent Registry
  File Application
  Disclose Invention
  Claims (Scope of Invention)
  1-Year Grace Period

  Country by Country
  Fight to Get It
  Prosecute

  Be Patient


IP #2 - Patents
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  How do I Keep a Patent?
  20 Years from Filing
  Maintenance Fees
  Improvement Patents


IP #2 - Patents
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  How do I Use a Patent?
  20-Year Monopoly
  Exclude Competitors
  Sue Them
  License to Them

  Defend Yourself
  At Least I Can Use
  If You Scratch My Back…

  Venture Capital


IP #2 - Patents
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PROS CONS

 20-Year Monopoly  Tell the World
 Higher Royalties  Cost to File ($2-10k)
 No Good Guy Defence  Cost to Register ($20k)
 It’s a “Business”  Cost to Enforce ($1m)


IP #3 - Copyright
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  What is a Copyright?
  A Work
  Literary, musical, dramatic, artistic
  Content
  Software
  Website
  Documentation
  Drawings, Designs

  Not a Patent


IP #3 - Copyright
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  How do I Get a Copyright?
  Create a Work
  Original

  Automatic
  Get It from Employees
  Written Contract


IP #3 - Copyright
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  How do I Keep It?
  Don’t Die
  Life of author plus 50 years


IP #3 - Copyright
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  How do I Use It?
  Prevent Copying
  Software, Code, Content

  All or part

  License It


IP #3 - Copyright
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PROS CONS

 Easy and Cheap  Does Not Protect Idea
 Employee Contribution  Only Copycats
 Licensing Revenue  Life + 50
 Monitoring


IP #4 - Trademarks
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  What is a Trademark?
  Brand Name
  Company

  Product

  Service

  Design
  Nike logo


IP #4 - Trademarks
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  How do I Get a Trademark?
  Use It
  File Application
  Fight for It (Prosecute)

  Country by country

  $2,000 per mark

  12 – 16 months


IP #4 - Trademarks
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  How do I Keep a Trademark?
  Use It
  Document Use
  Monitor
  Enforce


IP #4 - Trademarks
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  How do I Use a Trademark?
  Protect Goodwill
  Brand has Reputation

  Stop Confusion
  Free-riders

  License It


IP #4 - Trademarks
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PROS CONS

 Goodwill of Brand  A product or service
 Knock-Offs  Use It or Lose It


The End
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  Thank You
  Q&A
  arshia@tabrizilaw.com
  416.510.2600 x.306
  www.tabrizilaw.com


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