Protecting your investments : - How to get a producted protected under copyright laws

[Aymon]

hi there guys,

my first post, though I doubt they will be the last..!!! Awesome forums... v.v.useful reading

Now, my query... how on earth do I get a product of mine copyrighted? Let's say it's 100% unique in it's idea, and that no one has ever thought of it (I cannot say as this is the exact case!)
and I need to protect my investment....

I live in the UK, so who do you guys think I should notify about such a product? Should I seek advice from lawyer friends in the city about this? I genuinely feel that this could bring a potential additional income into my life and hence why I am eager to implement this quickly.

Cost is not a problem..... just finding about how to protect it is!

Many thanks

Aymon.

me@aymon.co.uk

 

[Michael Wechsler]

It is important to figure out what you need -- is it a design/invention or is it a "work of authorship" like a book or text/video? The first would require a patent and second would require a copyright.

It is possible that you may need to do both. Inventions almost always involve patent protection. They can be costly but also they can be very luctrative to own. Any good "intellectual property" attorney should know how to deal with protecting such property both in the UK and abroad.

Let's talk about ideas. These may not be able to be protected, but then again may be practically if they are an invention such as a business method or technical process. For example, if you have an idea that it would be great if there was a lawnmower that could cut your grass and trim your bushes in one gadget, you wouldn't get a patent on just the bare idea. You might well get a patent on the machine that you designed and its blueprints. The patent might be used to protect you against the entry of many other similar machines that do the same thing. This makes it very difficult for others to enter this arena of lawnmower-hedgetrimmer devices and your "idea" is practically protected and you are granted a virtual monopoly for a period of time.

TheLaw.com specializes in handling intellectual property matters (consultations@thelaw.com ) and has done work in the UK, or they can give you a referral to someone else. Of course, you can also find someone yourself who specializes in this area as well!

 

[Aymon]

wow!

Quick reply!

Right, basically, it isn't an invention. It is something which basically helps kids learn subjects easily such as maths and so on...

however, it is simpler then a textbook, and more effective to learn certain techniques and so on, according to syllabi issued by the examination bodies here in the UK.... so basically, as long as the individual has done the work, they will find such books written by myself a great help in the run up to revision..

That's basically what I thought of, however the true ideas/concepts will remain hidden?

Does that help any further? Most of my lawyer friends are either in litigation and corporate ventures with big firms.... would it be useful to seek their advice as well?

Many thanks

Aymon

me@aymon.co.uk

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Your friends in the firm will likely send the work to someone who deals with Intellectual Property and will likely be merely generally familiar with law regarding copyright and patent. It is impossible to say whether the work may be eligible for patent protection without a consultation with an IP specialist. Regardless, you do want the work copyrighted, which is simple enough.