You are an entrepreneur and just started a newbusiness in the restaurant industry.
The business
must
be hypothetical (made-up) for this assignment.
Please propose a plan for protecting your hypotheticalintellectual property (IP). Your plan should
consist of the following information. Please keep inmind that you may find that some categories are
more applicable than others. This is perfectlyacceptable as long as you analyze each category.
?
Trademark Protection
: Start by demonstrating your understanding of whatsubject matter
trademark protects. Survey the subject matter thatwould receive trademark protection in your
hypothetical restaurant business.
?
Patent Protection
: Explain what types of inventions are patenteligible. In your business,
explain whether you would have any items that wouldhave patent protection. You may also
comment on whether you need to apply for a patent.Feel free to use your imagination in
thinking about potential inventions that may beapplicable in a restaurant.
?
Copyright Protection
: Generally, list the types of works that may receivecopyright protection.
Survey the types of items in your business that mayreceive this protection, if any.
?
Trade Secret Protection:
Demonstrate your understanding of trade secretprotection. Would
this type of protection be applicable to yourbusiness? Why or why not? If applicable, describe
what steps your business might take to keep thisprotection.
?
Distinguish between the types of protections:
Give a brief overview of your understanding of
how the above protections are different. Then discusswhich type of protection is most
applicable to your business.
?
Infringement Concerns:
Identify any concerns that you have about infringingon a competitor’s
intellectual property rights. Describe what steps youmight take to avoid this problem.
?
Relevance and Significance of IntellectualProperty:
Is it important to understand these
different types of intellectual property protectionsbefore starting a business? Why or why not?
Please explain any benefits that students receive fromstudying this information.
