These days, it seems that no creators or entrepreneurs are safe from intellectual property theft. People who were thought to be trusted business partners and former employees are responsible for nearly half of all thefts, which occur most commonly in the business, financial, and information technology sectors. However, there are many other ways that theft can occur, from copying a clothing design to fully stealing a software application. If you are someone who relies on your intellectual property to make money, it is crucial to have the best defense against theft possible.

What is necessary to fight intellectual property cases? Here are three things you should consider if you have been a victim of intellectual property theft.

1. Get intellectual property protection if you haven’t already. If you haven’t yet filed for a patent or trademark, you should make sure that you can do so. Ideally, this should be done first, so you won’t have to worry about potential theft in the future, even while your application is in pending status with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. If your work needs copyright, this is a bit trickier, as copyright is automatically granted. However, you can still file for copyright through the U.S. Copyright Office in order to have your work on file for added protection.

2. Make sure you are familiar with trademark, copyright and patent laws. The next thing you should do is check to see whether any laws have been violated. This may be difficult to ascertain, but you might look to see if any other cases have come up that are similar to your own. Figure out how the law can protect you and whether or not you need to bring your case to an attorney, or ask an attorney for advice.

3. Hire an intellectual property lawyer. The best course of action to take is to hire an attorney if you have to fight your intellectual property cases in court. An attorney should not only have a clear understanding of intellectual property rights and laws, but they should also be familiar with what it is you are trying to protect. Make sure to find a lawyer who will know what to do to best defend your legal rights.

Have more questions? Be sure to contact a lawyer to find out more. You can leave general questions or comments below. Helpful sites.