How do I protect my ideas or my company's idea's subject matter from use by others? Patent, Trademark, Copyright or Trade Mark protection? The answer to these questions depends upon the nature of the idea and subject matter to be protected. Protection has at least two aspects: protecting against other's use of the subject matter; protection so that the subject matter adds intangible value for you or your company's operations.

Patent protection is drawn to any product, process, material or plant that is useful, novel, and non-obvious as compared to the prior art. Trademark protection addresses protection of the source of goods and their associated quality so that the consumer is not confused as to the source or quality of goods or services. Copyright protection affords a creative authorship fixed in a tangible medium protection from un-authorized copying. Trade secret protection offers protection for those products, processes, formulations or other ideas that may be difficult to reverse engineer from what is presented to the general public.

The Orange County SAMPE presentation will review the basics applicability and choice of protection for subject matter through patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret means. Some examples drawn from the advanced composite materials industry will illustrate the use and appropriateness of each intellectual property protection means. The strategic reasons for protecting intellectual property will be discussed from a practical perspective including cost, competitiveness and intangible value to a business entity.