Free Intellectual Property Information
Accessible Online Learning Resources for Everyone
Sep 10, 2009
Intellectual property law can be a confusing subject. With many gray areas, flexible laws, and evolving legislation, access to intellectual property information is vital for anyone involved in print, audio, visual, and now even digital publishing. Consulting an intellectual property law firm is one option, but this can often be an expensive choice. For many common issues there are free online learning resources which anyone can use to answer questions or educate themselves on the laws and policies of copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
The Franklin Pierce Law Center
The Franklin Pierce Law Center is one of the top five international law schools in the United States. They offer, as a complementary service to the public, knowledge that everyone seeking a copyright, trademark, or patent should possess. Of all the free online learning resources, this is the most ideal site for a succinct, yet comprehensive overview of intellectual property information. They explain the basics, such as how to avoid copyright, trademark, and patent problems, the extents of copyright protection, and trademark registration requirements, as well as provide a number of useful links.
The Intellectual Property Law Server
This site acts as a central hub for intellectual property information. It provides links to resources on copyrights, trademarks, and patents, as well as current news links, professional articles, job postings, and a listing of intellectual property firms. The Intellectual Property Law Server has a wonderful forum on all topics related to intellectual property law, such as discussions about patent filing and prosecution and international trademark help.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Founded in 1990, this donor-funded, non-profit organization provides a wealth of intellectual property information, primarily pertaining to the networked world. It offers a valuable public service, championing free speech, creation, consumer rights, and privacy on the internet. Creators, consumers, and owners of digital music, bloggers, and media technology innovators all can benefit from the intellectual property information found on the Electronic Frontier Foundation's website.
Free online learning resources include a legal guide for bloggers, the fundamentals of the intellectual property rights of coders and programmers, and an Action Center, where pertinent issues still open for debate are listed for the public to become involved with. They also publish current news stories on intellectual property information, such as an article on the debate over the rights involved in digitizing millions of books. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is not an actual intellectual property law firm, but it is undoubtedly an advocate for the correct usage of intellectual property rights.
Government Intellectual Property Resources
The U.S. Copyright Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office offer the most in-depth and dynamic intellectual property information. Also, of all the free online learning resources, the government sites tend to be the most difficult to digest. They post the actual texts of laws and policies, as well as answers to common questions, how to sections, and useful fact sheets. Every piece of necessary information can be found somewhere on these two sites.
All of these sites are beneficial resources for anyone who needs to access intellectual property information. They can act as a substitute for the help of an intellectual property law firm in some cases, or at least provide enough background information to develop a general understanding of the subject of intellectual property law.
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