| name | intellectual-property |
| description | Intellectual property law skill covering patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Use when the user needs assistance with IP protection, patent drafting, trademark registration, copyright matters, licensing, or IP disputes. Triggers on keywords like "patent", "trademark", "copyright", "trade secret", "IP", "intellectual property", "infringement", "prior art", "licensing", "USPTO". |
Intellectual Property
This skill provides expert guidance for protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights.
Core Capabilities
1. Patents
- Patentability analysis
- Patent drafting and prosecution
- Prior art searches
- Patent portfolio management
2. Trademarks
- Trademark searches and clearance
- Registration and prosecution
- Portfolio management
- Enforcement and opposition
3. Copyrights
- Copyright registration
- Infringement analysis
- Fair use assessment
- Licensing
4. Trade Secrets
- Protection programs
- NDA drafting
- Misappropriation claims
- Employee mobility issues
Patent Practice
Patentability Requirements (35 U.S.C.)
| Requirement | Standard | Key Cases |
|---|
| Subject Matter (§101) | Process, machine, manufacture, composition | Alice, Mayo, Bilski |
| Novelty (§102) | Not anticipated by prior art | |
| Non-obviousness (§103) | Not obvious to PHOSITA | KSR, Graham v. John Deere |
| Written Description (§112) | Describe invention adequately | |
| Enablement (§112) | Enable one skilled to make/use | |
Patent Types
| Type | Term | Coverage |
|---|
| Utility | 20 years from filing | Function, use, structure |
| Design | 15 years from grant | Ornamental appearance |
| Plant | 20 years from filing | New plant varieties |
Patent Application Components
1. Specification
- Title
- Cross-references
- Background
- Summary
- Brief description of drawings
- Detailed description
2. Claims
- Independent claims (broad)
- Dependent claims (narrow)
3. Abstract
4. Drawings (if needed)
5. Formal papers
- Declaration/oath
- Power of attorney
- Assignment
Prosecution Timeline
Filing → Publication (18 mo) → Office Action → Response →
Allowance/Final Rejection → Appeal/RCE → Grant
Trademark Practice
Registration Requirements
- Use in commerce (or bona fide intent)
- Distinctive mark
- Not confusingly similar to existing marks
- Not merely descriptive or generic
Strength Spectrum
STRONGEST ←────────────────────────────────→ WEAKEST
Fanciful → Arbitrary → Suggestive → Descriptive → Generic
(Kodak) (Apple) (Coppertone) (Sharp TV) (Escalator)
Likelihood of Confusion Factors (DuPont Factors)
- Similarity of marks
- Similarity of goods/services
- Channels of trade
- Conditions of sale
- Fame of prior mark
- Number of similar marks
- Nature and extent of actual confusion
- Length of concurrent use
- Variety of goods
- Market interface
- Applicant's right to exclude
- Extent of potential confusion
- Other established facts
Registration Process
1. Clearance Search
2. Application Filing (TEAS)
3. Examination (~3-4 months)
4. Publication (30 days)
5. Opposition Period
6. Registration (or Notice of Allowance for ITU)
7. Statement of Use (if ITU)
8. Maintenance (Sections 8, 9, 15)
Maintenance Requirements
| Filing | Deadline | Purpose |
|---|
| Section 8 | 5-6 years | Continued use declaration |
| Section 15 | 5-6 years | Incontestability |
| Section 8 & 9 | Every 10 years | Renewal |
Copyright Practice
Protectable Works (17 U.S.C. § 102)
- Literary works
- Musical works
- Dramatic works
- Choreographic works
- Pictorial, graphic, sculptural works
- Motion pictures and audiovisual works
- Sound recordings
- Architectural works
Not Protectable
- Ideas, procedures, processes
- Facts
- Titles, names, short phrases
- Works in public domain
- Government works
Copyright Duration
| Work Type | Duration |
|---|
| Individual author | Life + 70 years |
| Joint work | Life of last surviving author + 70 years |
| Work for hire | 95 years from publication or 120 from creation |
| Anonymous/pseudonymous | Same as work for hire |
Fair Use Analysis (§ 107)
- Purpose and character of use (commercial vs. educational, transformative)
- Nature of copyrighted work (creative vs. factual)
- Amount and substantiality of portion used
- Effect on market for original work
Registration Benefits
- Prerequisite to suit (for US works)
- Statutory damages ($750-$30,000; up to $150,000 if willful)
- Attorney's fees
- Prima facie evidence of validity
Trade Secret Practice
Elements (DTSA / UTSA)
- Information
- Derives value from secrecy
- Reasonable efforts to maintain secrecy
Protection Measures
Misappropriation Claims
Acquisition: Improper means (theft, bribery, breach of duty)
Disclosure/Use: Without consent, when should know improper
Remedies
- Injunctive relief
- Damages (actual loss + unjust enrichment)
- Exemplary damages (2x for willful)
- Attorney's fees (bad faith or willful)
IP Licensing
Key License Terms
| Term | Description |
|---|
| Grant clause | Scope of rights licensed |
| Field of use | Permitted applications |
| Territory | Geographic scope |
| Exclusivity | Exclusive, sole, or non-exclusive |
| Sublicense rights | Ability to sublicense |
| Term | Duration of license |
| Royalties | Payment structure |
| Audit rights | Verify royalty payments |
| Improvements | Rights to enhancements |
| Representations | IP ownership, non-infringement |
| Indemnification | IP infringement claims |
Royalty Structures
- Running royalty (% of sales)
- Flat fee (lump sum)
- Minimum guarantees
- Milestone payments
- Hybrid structures
IP Disputes
Patent Infringement Analysis
- Claim construction
- Literal infringement
- Doctrine of equivalents
- Defenses (invalidity, exhaustion, implied license)
Trademark Infringement
- Likelihood of confusion
- Dilution (famous marks)
- Cybersquatting (ACPA, UDRP)
Copyright Infringement
- Ownership of valid copyright
- Copying (access + substantial similarity)
- Defenses (fair use, license, independent creation)
Key Databases and Resources
| Resource | Purpose | URL |
|---|
| USPTO | Patent/trademark search | uspto.gov |
| WIPO | International filings | wipo.int |
| Google Patents | Patent search | patents.google.com |
| EPO Espacenet | European patents | espacenet.com |
| TESS | Trademark search | tmsearch.uspto.gov |
| Copyright Office | Registration | copyright.gov |
Integration with Other Skills
- legal-research: Case law and precedent
- contract-lifecycle: IP licensing agreements
- corporate-ma: IP due diligence
- litigation: IP enforcement
- international-arbitration: Cross-border IP disputes
Reference Files
For detailed guidance:
references/patent-prosecution.md - Patent application guidereferences/trademark-clearance.md - TM search methodologyreferences/licensing-templates.md - License agreement forms
