Want to learn more? Check out these great on-line resources.
United States Government
The United States Patent and Trademark Office
The USPTO website has a new look and great, easy to understand information for inventors and small business owners about what patents and trademarks, how to file for protection, as well as searchable databases. You can even file your patent or trademark application via the electronic filing systems available on this website.
The United States Copyright Office
Copyrights are administered by the Library of Congress. You can find general information, search copyright records, and file your registration on this website or through a link at the Library of Congress website, www.loc.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border PatrolÂ
The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol assists US businesses and consumers by targeting and seizing imports of counterfeit and pirated goods. They also enforce exclusion orders on patent-infringing and other IPR infringing goods.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI assists is primarily concerned with the theft of trade secrets and infringements on products that can impact consumers’ health and safety, such as counterfeit aircraft, car, and electronic parts.
For more information on US government initiatives to stop IP theft, you can also check out:
www.justice.gov/dag/iptaskforce
Foreign Government Information
Because intellectual property law is specific to each country, here are some resources to help you navigate IP issues in foreign jurisdictions.
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)