Articles Posted in Intellectual Property

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For startups, intellectual property (IP) and trade secrets are often among the most valuable assets. Protecting these assets is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and ensuring long-term success. However, startups face unique challenges in safeguarding their IP and trade secrets due to limited resources and the fast-paced nature of their growth. This article outlines the best practices that startup companies should follow to effectively protect their intellectual property and trade secrets.

1. Identify and Prioritize Your Intellectual Property

The first step in protecting your IP is to identify what constitutes intellectual property within your startup. Common forms of IP include:

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Copyright violation on the internet, also known as “online copyright infringement” or “internet piracy,” refers to the unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or display of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner. It occurs when someone uses copyrighted content in a manner that goes beyond the rights granted to them under copyright law.

Examples of copyright violation on the internet include:

Unauthorized File Sharing: Sharing copyrighted music, movies, software, or other digital content through peer-to-peer (“P2P”) networks or file-sharing platforms without the permission of the copyright owner.

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Patents are a type of intellectual property protection that grants inventors the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, or selling their invention for a limited period. In the United States, the federal government regulates the patent system, providing inventors with legal protection for their creations. In this article, we will provide an overview of United States patent laws, including their key provisions and the role they play in protecting innovation and creativity.

Types of Patents

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants three types of patents:

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Copyright infringement is a serious violation of intellectual property rights that occurs when someone uses, reproduces, or distributes copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner. In the United States, copyright protection is governed by both state and federal laws. Understanding the interplay between these laws is crucial for safeguarding creative works and addressing instances of copyright infringement. In this article, we will explore the state and federal laws related to copyright infringement and their significance in protecting the rights of creators.

Federal Copyright Law

The primary framework for copyright protection in the United States is provided by federal law, specifically the Copyright Act of 1976. Under this act, copyright is automatically granted to original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium, such as literary works, music, films, visual arts, and software. Federal copyright law establishes exclusive rights for copyright owners, including the rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and perform their works.

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Machine learning algorithms can help create fake videos or pictures of someone else without their knowledge or consent. In fact, in 2017, University of Washington’s researchers created a video of Barak Obama who was seemingly discussing important issues. Now, there are software applications such as FakeApp that can help create deepfake pictures or videos for free. FakeApp was created by using Google’s open-source deep learning software program.

The advent of “fake news” has created a new movement in the entertainment and news industries. It has allowed everyone to question the source and validity of journalistic works. So now, deepfake movements and creations are creating new legal predicaments. The relevant issues, include, but may not be limited to, invasion of privacy, false light, and defamation.

The creator or publisher of the deepfake picture or video can put together a seamless video by having access to a base video and several source images of the person’s face. The computer-generated face can look identical to the original person’s face which can create confusion. This confusion can result in monetary damages to the victim. For example, a deepfake video can show the victim saying or doing something wrong which could cause the victim’s loss of employment. Or, in another example, the victim, who is running for political office, may be shown to have said or done something that could impede the election process.

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Deepfake rules and regulations have been developing in the recent times. The term “deepfake” comes from two separate words – deep learning and fake – which uses artificial intelligence technology to create fake pictures or videos. The creator can utilize special software programs to create the picture or video by face swapping. This has become a problem because it can violate the victim’s privacy rights and public image.

We can detect the false image by conducting a reverse-image search. So, in other words, if the fake image was made by using another image on the web, the original version should be found. The fake image may be also detected by close evaluation. So, for example, the person in the fake video may not blink or yield normal facial expressions. It may also be detected through magnification or physiological analysis.

The victim’s legal rights can be violated by the deepfake creator or publisher. In most cases, it raises an issue regarding privacy rights. In California, false light is a legal cause of action that can be used by the plaintiff against the defendant who improperly represented the plaintiff who was embarrassed or offended by those actions. The plaintiff may argue that any reasonable person in the same or similar circumstances would be embarrassed or offended. The plaintiff may bring a cause of action for defamation against the creator and argue that the false factual statement – i.e., picture or video – was not privileged and had a tendency to damage his or her reputation in the community. The plaintiff may also file a legal action for misappropriation or right of publicity of the picture or video was utilized to promote a promote or service. Now, if the plaintiff suffers from emotional distress (e.g., depression, anxiety, insomnia), then he or she may also bring a cause of action for intentional or negligent infliction of emotional stress. See https://www.justia.com/trials-litigation/docs/caci/1600/1600 for more information.

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There are various ways to protect your intellectual property rights. First, you can register a copyright. Second, you may register a trademark or service mark. Third, you may register a patent. Copyrights are meant to protect literature, music, motion pictures, artistic works, photographs, essays, articles, computer programs, graphic design, and sound recordings. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design, or a combination of any of them that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others. A service mark is the same as a trademark but it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service. A patent grants a property right to the inventor. It grants the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention or importing the invention into the United States. In general, patents are valid for 20 years from the application date.

So, in summary, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, and patents protect different types of intellectual property. Trademarks protect brand names and logos used on goods and services. A copyright protects an original artistic or literary work. A patent protects inventions. For example, if you invent a television, you should file a patent application. You would apply to register a trademark to protect the television’s brand name. You can also register a copyright for the product’s advertisement.

There have been multiple intellectual property disputes especially between e-commerce websites. For example, there was a legal battle between Amazon and Barnes & Noble regarding the “single click” or “one-click” buying mechanism. This legal action was confidentially settled between the parties. Google has been sued by multiple companies for selling their trademarks as keywords. In fact, American Airlines and Geico have instigated legal actions against it. Also, the infamous “Da Vinci Code” lawsuit was brought by several authors against the Random House Group claiming copyright infringement. The case was about an alleged copyright violation by Dan Brown who wrote the bestselling “Da Vinci Code” book. However, the court dismissed the case and stated that there was no copyright infringement by textual or non-textual copying of a substantial part of the subject book.

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The question is whether you can copyright computer programs and videogames. The Copyright Act was amended to expressly include the right to register computer programs and videogames.

What is a computer program and how can you copyright it?

A computer program is a set of statements or instructions to be used in a computer to provide a result. See 17 U.S.C. § 101; Stern Electronics, Inc. v. Kaufman, 669 F.2d 852, 855 (2d. Cir. 1982). Copyright protection extends to the copyrightable expressions embodied in the computer program. Computer programs are classified as literary works for the purposes of copyright. See Whelan Associates v. Jaslow Dental Laboratory, 797 F.2d 1222, 1234 (3d Cir. 1986). Also, copyright laws do not protect the functional aspects of a computer program (e.g., algorithms, formatting, functions, logic, system designs).

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The copyright application process is three parts: (1) application form; (2) nonrefundable filing fee; and (3) a nonreturnable deposit of the work’s copy. In general, the copyright owner should submit a separate application for each work. However, the following exceptions apply for registering multiple works in one application:

  1. Collective Works: When a number of separate and independent contributions are assembled into a collective whole;
  2. Group Registrations: When multiple unpublished works, serials, newspapers, newsletters, contributions to periodicals, photographs, database updates, or secure test items meet registration requirements in one application;
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Virtual reality (VR) is an experience taking place within simulated and immersive environments that can be similar to or completely different from the real world. It can be used for educational and entertainment purposes.  Also, augmented reality or mixed reality are other types of this technology.

The current systems use some kind of device (e.g., headsets or multi-projected environments) to create images, sounds, or other sensations in order to take the user into the virtual environment. The users can submerge themselves into the virtual environment and interact with the virtual features as if they are real.  The effect is generated by special headsets that yield a head-mounted display with a tiny screen before the eyes, but can also be created through specially designed rooms with big screens. This technology includes visual and auditory feedback, and can also permit other types of senses or feedback through haptic technology.

What are the potential legal issues?

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