What are the laws regarding the use of intellectual property such as patents, trademarks and copyrights?

In Washington, the laws regarding intellectual property such as patents, trademarks and copyrights are governed by the federal government through the United States Intellectual Property Law, as well as state and local laws. Patents are used to protect inventions and can be obtained for inventions that are new, useful and are non-obvious. Patents are granted for a period of 20 years by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Patents can be used to stop others from making, using or selling the invention without permission from the patent holder. Trademarks are used to identify and distinguish goods and services in the marketplace. A trademark is a word, phrase, logo, design or combination of these that is used to identify a product or service. Trademarks are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and are valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. Copyrights are used to protect original works of authorship such as literary works, movies, music, art and computer software. Copyrights are granted for the life of the author plus 70 years, and are registered with the United States Copyright Office. All of these forms of intellectual property are protected under Washington law and can be used to protect inventions, products, services and original works in the marketplace. It is important to research applicable laws before attempting to use these forms of protection as improper use or infringement can lead to legal consequences.

What are the laws regarding the use of intellectual property such as patents, trademarks and copyrights?

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