Dec 06 – Firm Articles
Intellectual Property Inventory Checklist
Trademarks/Service Marks
- Registered domestic and foreign marks
- Pending applications
- Common law marks
- New products/services
- Vineyard names
- Packaging/advertising materials
- Advertising slogans
- Icons, logos, graphics
- Customer nicknames
- Domain names
- 800/888 numbers
Trade Names/Corporate Names/DBAs/LLC Names
- Registered/qualified names
- Fictitious name filing requirements
Copyrights
- Registered copyrights
- Pending applications
- Copyright interests in artistic creations
Trade Dress
Typically found in unique, distinctive or non-functional items, or those bearing an indicator of corporate origin. Can include, without limitation:
- Packaging
- Point of sale display
- Colors
- Trade show marketing
- Graphic design
- Web site design
Trade Secrets
Defined as items not generally known or ascertainable by proper means, having economic value and the subject of reasonable precautions for the secrecy thereof. Not typically registrable; dependent on contractual, statutory or common law enforcement. Includes, without limitation:
- Customer lists
- Employee knowledge (know-how)
- Ideas
- Combination of elements in the public domain
- Specially-developed customer information and sales practices
- Negative Information (e.g., negative results of R&D)
- Production Processes
- Survey/Research data and conclusions
- Software (source code, proprietary documentation)
Patents
- Issued domestic and foreign patents
- Pending applications
- Unfiled invention disclosures