Intellectual Property and Software Flashcards
Define Trademark
A graphical image, word or sound under which a particular person or organization is well-known
Define Trade Secret
A process or formula which is a closely guard secret
Define Patents
A novel and non-obvious design for a limited time period
Define Copyright
A legal restriction on copying of creative works, usually for a limited time
What are some concerns with copyright
Copyright belongs to your employer when you are working for them, so issues are raised when working in your free time on other projects
How to get a patent
They are granted when you present the patent office in your country a novel and non-obviouis design
What happens when you get a patent
The inventor is granted a monopoly on the use or the sale of their idea
Define Monopoly
The exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service
When are monopolies formed
During horizontal and vertical convergence
Why don’t governments like monopolies
Enables price fixing
Supply inferior products
They reduce innovation
They can drive inflation
What are improvements to patents
Holder cannot sell improved device without original patent holder’s permission
Original holder cannot sell improved device without improvement patent holder’s permission
What are debates around software patenting
Obviousness and inventiveness
What if someone patents the for loop
Overlap with copyright
Code is already protected from direct copying
Interoperability
This could be broken with patents
Patent trolling
Companies that only buy patents in the United States to sue other companies
