Protecting a Mobile App with IP Law
Like anything, Intellectual Property (IP) law can seem daunting on the first approach. But the savvy startup owner, inventor, or creative entrepreneur will learn quickly that IP law is a friend rather than a foe. This is true for mobile app developers and technology companies, just as it is true for engineers. Types of Intellectual Property Protection There are three major protections available for mobile app developers: patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Patents grant their owners with the exclusive right, for up to twenty years, over the invention claimed in an issued patent. An aspect that distinguishes patents from other forms of IP protection is that a set of patent claims must enable a consumer of ordinary skill to reverse-engineer and utilize the invention. There are three types of patents: utility, design, and plant. Utility patents are both the most common patent as well as the most difficult to obtain. They pertain generally to the functionality o...