An excellent text for clients to read before meeting with attorneys so they'll understand the fundamentals of patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, mask work, and unfair competition laws.
This is not a "do-it-yourself" manual but rather a ready reference tool for inventors or creators that will generate maximum efficiencies in obtaining, preserving and enforcing their intellectual property rights. It explains why they need to secure the services of IPR attorneys.
Coverage includes employment contracts, including the ability of engineers to take confidential and secret knowledge to a new job, shop rights and information to help an entrepreneur establish a non-conflicting enterprise when leaving their prior employment.
Sample forms of contracts, contract clauses, and points to consider before signing employment agreements are included.
Coverage of copyright, software protection, and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) as well as the procedural variances in international intellectual property laws and procedures.
" Today, IP is the currency of our new economy . "
–Forbes Asap
Protect your intellectual property rights
Knowledge is power and nowhere is that more apparent than in today’s information-driven, high technology economy. Fueled by the growing demand for new and improved technology, engineers, scientists, and the companies that employ them and manage technology have a vested interest in protecting the wealth generated by their innovative ideas and inventions.
Addressing this growing need, Intellectual Property Law for Engineers and Scientists avoids difficult legal jargon to clearly explain the fundamentals of patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, mask work, and unfair competition laws, as they apply to the scientific and engineering community. To motivate readers, each chapter begins with an inspirational essay on a famous inventor and invention.
This is the book to read before consulting a lawyer. The author, an experienced patent attorney, educator, and former patent examiner, provides valuable and easy-to-access legal information on a variety of common professional concerns, such as:
- Maintaining confidentiality in new employment contracts
- Obtaining software protection
- Applying for patents, trademarks, or copyrights
- Protecting against unfair competition
- Entering into contracts and employment agreements
- Strategic use and management of intellectual property
- The entrepreneurial use of intellectual property
Replete with sample forms of pertinent documents and helpful points to consider regarding all aspects of intellectual property, Intellectual Property Law for Engineers and Scientists provides valuable information every high-tech professional should read to protect themselves against potential loss or liability.
