Intellectual Property: Smalls or Biggie?
Jay Z said, “You think Smalls I think Biggie.” When it comes to intellectual property (IP), what are you thinking? Smalls or Biggie? To you, is intellectual property a small matter that doesn’t concern you, or is it a big deal?
Let’s Talk About It!
Intellectual Property is your own work that you manifested from your own being. It’s your creative and innovative work that is entitled to protection from the “IP thieves” lol. Why should you protect your intellectual property?
BECAUSE IT IS YOUR RIGHT! YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT, USE, AND MONETIZE WHAT YOU CREATE, AS YOU SEE FIT!
You are probably wondering what is considered intellectual property and how do you protect it…
Here is a non exhaustive list of some of the things that are protected as IP:
- Brand names
- Business names
- Logos
- A variety of designs
- Song lyrics
- A book series
- A course
- SOOOOOO MUCH MORE!
Here are the main ways you can protect your intellectual property:
- Trademarks
- Copyrights
- Patents
- Trade Secrets
I will do a more extensive blog on both trademarks and copyrights. For now, I want to tell you a little bit about why intellectual property is important.
As stated above, intellectual property is the result of your mind at work. Everyone has intellectual property. We all think of something or want to do something that could be eligible for registered IP protection. But to have full IP protection, some things have to be registered and/or legally recognized as yours for you to claim ownership over it.
That’s it. That is why it is soooo important. Because if you don’t register it, you run the risk of creating something great that someone else can steal or “borrow”, they can get it registered, and you just lost your leverage and your creative work.
For example, let’s say you create an amazing brand name referred to as “XYZ” but instead of registering it you only use the name and start advertising it. Two weeks after using it, someone on Instagram saw it and thought, “Yo, this is fire! Let me trademark that thang and start a business using this name.” What would then happen to you and your brand? You would likely receive a cease and desist letter to stop using it because guess what? You snooze, you lose, and the first one to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) WINS!
Now, there is a lot that goes into registering your intellectual property. This includes having to deal with names or designs that are already registered that yours may be too similar to, or someone already registering the exact thing that you thought was super unique. (I guess we are not always as creative as we think. But, we still the bomb so it’s all good)! This is why it is best to consult with an attorney when registering your IP. Even if there is a chance that you may get turned around, they know some maneuvers that could still get you in the USPTO party!
So, I ask you again, what is intellectual property to you? Is it a small matter or a big deal?
To me, IT’S A BIG DEAL because (1) it takes me a while to enter my creative space, (2) while I’m there, I come up with some pretty cool and unique ideas, and (3) I’ll be da** if someone makes money off my creative juices.
Think about it and comment on this blog to let me know what intellectual property is to you, a small matter or a big deal. I look forward to talking with you, and as always:
