Stop Intellectual Property Infringements - PDF document

Stop Intellectual Property Infringements Your intellectual property rights, like trademarks, copyrights and patents, are your assets, and you have the right to decide who, when, where, and how to use them . As they are valuable assets, you must make sure that they are not stolen, copied, exploit ed or used without your consent. We’ll explain what’s intellectual property (IP) inHringement and how to protect your brand – rapidly and effectively with Wiser Market online brand protection services. What is kntellectual Property knfringement ? An intellectual property (IP) infringement is the violation of an intellectual property right. Intellectual property rights include protected rights such as trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. Alt hough intangible, intellectual property rights are your assets. Therefore, it is illegal to violate them, and IP owners can stop third parties from doing so. What are the Most :ommon Types of kntellectual Property ? Here are the 4 most common categories of intellectual property : 1. Trademarks : Trademarks are usually words, phrases, symbols, designs, or a combination oH these that distinguish the products and services oH one business Hrom others. Ds a source identi�er, trademarks protect the unique identity oH your business. They are the best way to create recognition and enable customers to identiHy the source oH the goods or services. Sometimes, a unique shape or design can be trademarked as a trade dress or color trade mark . John Deere’s green and yellow color mark. Source: Unsplash Trademarks can become extremely valuable and brands work hard to protect them and make sure they last . Famous trademarks. Source: Unsplash 2. Copyrights : Copyrights are rights that protect original works oH authorship �xed in a tangible medium oH expression, “… including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works,” as described by the U.S. Copyright O�ce. Some examples oH copyrights include photographs, videos , music and podcast recordings, articles, logo designs, computer soHtware, and other creative works. Once the conditions set out in the law are met, original creative works are protected regardless oH their merit or commercial value. 3. Patents: Patents protect innovation, and the patent owner has the exclusive right to authorize the making, using, selling, distributing, o�ering Hor sale or importing oH patented go ods, processes, and registered designs. 4. Trade Secrets: Trade secrets shield con�dential inHormation that is commercially valuable, known only to a limited group oH people, and has been subject to reasonable steps to keep it a secret. Trade secrets are use d to give a company a competitive advantage. Some examples include technical inHormation, prototypes, Hormulas, recipes, methods, and procedures. What are Examples of kntellectual Property knfringement Online ? 1) Counterfeiting : Counterfeiting is one of the most harmful forms of trademark infringement. Counterfeit products are illegal fakes that imitate the real thing, fooling customers into believing they are getting the genuine product. Other times, customers are aware but loo k for the opportunity to buy a fake instead of paying the full price for the original goods. Today, everything is counterfeited, from sneakers to toys , pharmaceuticals and pesticides , and from olive oil to automotive parts . Counter feits are not only harmful to brands. They create health, safety, and environmental risks and can be dangerous for consumers. Most counterfeits are sold online through marketplaces and social media accounts. 2) Digital Piracy: Online copyright infringement s are also called digital piracy. A copyright violation occurs when a third party uses all or a portion of a protected work without the consent of the owner. Sometimes, copyright infringement means that a third party uses a protected work in a way that vio lates copyright protection even though it’s not an exact replica. Whether done Hor malicious purposes or not is irrelevant – copyright infringement is illegal except when it falls under one of the exceptions to copyright violations, such as fair use. Digital piracy includes various types of infringements, such as: a. Unauthorized images – original photographs and graphics replicated and uploaded online. b. Content copying – Stealing a brand’s copy or content and uploading it to a social media account or listing. c. Illegal streaming – It is forbidden to upload works like music or videos without authorization (and yet it happens all the time). 3) Patent Violation: Patent infringement occurs when someone makes, uses, sells, or offers to sell a patented p roduct or design without the consent of the patent owner. For example, when a third - party leases someone else’s patent. 4) Brand Impersonation : Misleading domain names (such as lookalike domains and almost - identical domain names), lookalike websites, app impersonation, fraudulent social media accounts and more which replicate your identity and confuse unsuspecting customers into believing they represent a business that they don’t. 5) Stealing secrets : The copy, distribution or otherwise use of confidential information without the consent of the business or bran d is prohibited. How Does kntellectual Property knfringements A�ect Businesses ? If not dealt with and eliminated, intellectual property infringement can affect brands in various ways, such as: 1. Lose Revenue – Sales oH Hakes and diverting tra�c to an in Hringing listing or website result in Hewer sales Hor the original brand. 2. Inhibit Erowth – UnHair competition can inhibit growth, reduce market share or make it harder to win more. 3. Damage Brand Reputation – D company’s reputation is easily damaged by low - q uality counterHeit goods. Yet, it’s about more than quality: CounterHeits and unauthorized gray marketing products may also pose health and saHety risks to consumers, hurting bo th customers and brands. 4. Hurt Consumer Trust – When consumers buy a product just to �nd out it’s Hake or a cheap knocko�, it a�ects their trust in the brand. 5. Business Relationships – Relationships with authorized distributors and other business partners are likely to su�er when the brand is unprotected, and the same goes Hor investments in the business. Now Stop kntellectual Property knfringement s In a digital world, businesse s constantly face the risk of third parties violating their intellectual property rights. The best way to counter the threat of intellectual property infringement is to be proactive. To successfully combat online IP infringements, choose a partner with the technology, expertise, and team to help you address online intellectual property infringements in a way that is time and cost - effective. Wiser Market helps brands large and small to eliminate online infringements. Our advanced technology scans online channels and detects unauthorized use of your intellectual property rights on marketplaces, websites, social media, apps, and other digital ch annels. Wiser Market’s highly eHHective online brand protection strategy safeguards your revenue and brand reputation, with a proven track record of over 95% success rate. At Wiser Market, we protect your brand so you can grow your business. WiserTip: We know there is no “one size Hits all” and tailor our brand protection strategy to your brand’s unique needs. FA Q Why register a trademark? The benefits of a registered trademark include: • Exclusive rights to use the trademark • Nationwide priority • Improved brand reputation • Better trademark enHorcement • Enables registration in other countries based on the national trademark What are the benefits of patents? • Exclusive rights to use the invention, sell or license it • Competitive advantage • Dbility to enHorce rights • Mitigated risk oH IP inHringements • Dttractive Hor partners and investors What is Online Brand Protection? Digital brand protection services counter online threats and protect your intellectual property assets. Whether you wish to fight counterfeiting, protect your domain name, prevent trademark, copyright and brand infringements, or combat gray market selling and knockoHHs, use Wiser Market’s online brand protection services. Online brand protection saHeguards your brand’s revenue, proHitability, reputation, customer service and brand trust. What are brand protection services? Brand protection services combat b rand infringement. They include detection, analysis and enforcement of the intellectual property rights of businesses of all sizes. For more information, visit https://wisermarket.com/ What are the benefits of onlin e brand protection services? Online brand protection services are a must - have in today’s digital economy. • Protect what’s yours – Your intellectual property rights are your assets. • Less counterHeit products – Eliminating counterHeit listings online signi�c antly reduces the motivation to produce them. • Erow your pro�ts – Fewer Hakes means more pro�ts Hor your business. CounterHeiters divert tra�c and hurt sales, and it’s almost impossible to beat their pricing because they claim to o�er “your” products o r services at lower prices. • Increase market share – D counterHeit seller is an unHair competitor Hor your market share. Dealing with counterHeiters helps to win back market share. • Reduce the cost oH doing business – Marketing costs rise when third - party s ellers bid up paid advertising costs and/or erode legitimate search engine optimization. • Encourage investment in your business – Perceived business value rises when your brand is strong. • Faster growth – CounterHeits and unHair competition inhibit growth. • Protect your reputation and customer trust – Illicit goods damage hard - earned brand reputation. The illegitimate use oH any oH the brand’s distinguishing Heatures by others results in conHusion and jeopardizes the brand’s trustworthiness.