1. How do I know what form of intellectual property protection is available for my work? 

YOU FIRST HAVE TO DETERMINE IF ITS ONE OF THE 5
RECOGNIZABLE FORMS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. (PATENT, TRADEMARK, RIGHT
OF PUBLICITY, TRADE SECRETS, OR COPYRIGHT. ONCE YOU DETERMINE THAT,
DIFFERENT RULES WOULD APPLY FOR EACH.)

2. How "original" does my work have to be to merit copyright protection? 

TO BE ORIGINAL, IT MUST NOT BE "SUBSTANTIALLY
SIMILAR" TO PREVIOUSLY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL.

3. How do I know if I can protect my business information as a trade secret? 

IT MUST BE INFORMATION WHERE STEPS ARE
TAKEN TO PROTECT THAT INFORMATION FROM COMPETITORS IN THE SAME OR
SIMILAR INDUSTRY. GENREALLY, IF THE INFORMATION HAS VALUE TO THE OWNER
AND STEPS ARE TAKEN TO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL, YOU CAN PROTECT IT.

4. How much of my work is protected under a copyright? 

ANY ORIGINAL, CREATIVE EXPRESSION IN A FIXED TANGIBLE FORM
CAN BE PROTECTED.


5. How long can I receive protection for my invention under a patent? 

I BELIEVE ITS 20 YEARS FOR A UTLITY PATENT.

6. Can I protect multiple but related works under the same registration? 

YES, THEY CAN.


7. How can I prove that there has been an infringement on my copyright? 

IF THE WORK IS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO YOUR WORK, YOU MAY
HAVE A CLAIM FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

8. Are there specialized courts in the United States that hear intellectual property claims? 

FEDERAL COURTS WILL HEAR TRADEMARK,
COPYRIGHT AND PATENT CASES. STATE COURTS WILL HEAR TRADE SECRET AND
RIGHT OF PUBLICITY CASES.

9. What is required for me to pursue an action for the appropriation of a trade secret? 

YOU WOULD HAVE TO
FILE A LAWSUIT IN THE STATE COURTS.

10. What is the relationship of intellectual property to an intellectual economy?

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE EXPORTS THE US HAS, SO
ALOT.