Intellectual Property policy
Patent - refers to a government-granted monopoly for a certain period of time, usually 20 years from the filing date, that gives the owner the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, and importing an invention.
Trademark - refers to any word, phrase, symbol, or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of goods and services.
Copyright - refers to a form of protection provided to the authors of “original works of authorship” including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.
Policy:
Procedure:
Trademark - refers to any word, phrase, symbol, or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of goods and services.
Copyright - refers to a form of protection provided to the authors of “original works of authorship” including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.
Policy:
- Ownership of Intellectual Property: The company owns all intellectual property created by employees in the course of their employment or created using company resources, including but not limited to patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
- Protection of Intellectual Property: The company will take all reasonable measures to protect its intellectual property, including filing for patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as appropriate.
- Confidentiality: All employees must maintain the confidentiality of the company's intellectual property and any information related to it.
- Use of Intellectual Property: Employees may not use the company's intellectual property for personal gain or in a manner that is harmful to the company.
- Inventions and Patents: Employees must disclose all inventions made during the course of their employment to the company and must assign any related patent rights to the company.
- Trademarks: Employees must not use the company's trademarks or logos without prior written approval.
- Copyrights: Employees must not use the company's copyrighted materials without prior written approval.
Procedure:
- Intellectual Property Disclosures: Employees must report all intellectual property they create during the course of their employment to the company's Legal Department.
- Review of Intellectual Property Disclosures: The Legal Department will review all disclosures and determine the appropriate course of action, including filing for patents, trademarks, and copyrights, as appropriate.
- Confidentiality Agreements: Employees may be required to sign confidentiality agreements to protect the company's intellectual property.
- Use of Intellectual Property: Employees must seek prior written approval from the Legal Department before using the company's intellectual property for any purpose.
- Infringement Claims: The company will take appropriate action to defend its intellectual property rights, including filing lawsuits against infringers, as necessary.