How do I determine if I have a valid copyright or patent?

When determining if you have a valid copyright or patent in California, it is important to ensure that your work meets certain criteria. To determine if a work is copyrightable, it must be an original expression that is fixed in a tangible form. This means that the work must be in a tangible form, such as paper, digital files, sound recordings, or photographs, and the expression must be original, not just copied from another source. If the work meets these requirements, it is likely copyrightable. To determine if an invention is eligible for a patent, it must be new and useful. This means that the invention must not already exist, nor be an obvious variation of something that already exists. Additionally, the invention must be useful, meaning that it can perform a function or produce a result. If the invention meets these criteria, it is likely patentable. Once you have determined that your work meets the requirements above, you can then apply to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a copyright or patent. The USPTO will then determine the validity of your application and issue the appropriate protections or reject the application, depending on the outcome.

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How do I determine if I have a valid copyright or patent?

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