With a strong background representing technology companies and extensive commercial legal experience, Orange County Intellectual Property Attorney Matt Sumrow helps clients develop, protect, and enforce their business’ intellectual property rights. These company assets include patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and technology transactions. Matt understands the nuances of intellectual property law, and he has a comprehensive depth of experience in all types of business law matters. He represents companies of all sizes and in numerous industries. Business Attorney Matt Sumrow brings the knowledge and professionalism of a large law firm with the personal services and reasonable rates of a smaller firm. He has more than 20 years of legal experience helping clients protect and grow their businesses. Call Intellectual Property Lawyer Matt Sumrow at (949) 468-3204 to schedule a complimentary strategy session. After learning about your concerns and the needs of your business, Matt will consider your objectives and offer advice on the next step.

Safeguard Your Intellectual Property

As a business lawyer, Matt brings practical solutions and strategic representation to benefit each client. Whether the matter involves a trademark application, licensing of intellectual property, or negotiating the sale or acquisition of intellectual property, Matt delivers trusted guidance and skilled advocacy while pursuing the best interests of his clients. Some aspects of other areas of the law, such as freedom of speech and unfair competition, often are intertwined with intellectual property matters. Internet activities also frequently involve intellectual property law matters such as domain name and trademark rights, copyrights for website content and related software, patents for unique business methods and trade secret protections for proprietary information.

Copyright Protection for Original Works

Copyrights protect “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other intellectual works. Books, paintings, films, sound recordings and software are some of the “works of authorship” that may be protected by copyrights. Design elements in a functional item, such as an artistic design for the legs of a chair, may also be protected by copyrights. There are common law copyrights that, in the United States, automatically arise with the creation of the works. Registering a copyrightable work with the United States Copyright Office provides additional advantages and protections to the copyright owner.

Protect Your Invention

Trademarks and service marks are used on or in connection with goods (trademarks) or services (service marks) sold in commerce. Exclusive rights to a trademark or service mark can be obtained based on actual use of the mark in commerce. Rights based on such use are known as common law rights. Superior protection for a trademark or service mark may be obtained under the Lanham Act by registering the mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademark and service mark applications may be filed on the basis of actual use (for a mark that is already being used in commerce) or on an intent to use basis (for a mark that one intends to use in the future). Filing a trademark or service mark application on an intent to use basis is a good way to protect a mark before you begin using it in commerce. The mark will have to be used in commerce before a registration will be issued, but in the meantime a pending intent to use application generally provides priority over any later filed application or any subsequent use in commerce by a different party

Contact our Intellectual Property Attorney Today

Prior to using or applying to register a trademark, service mark or patent, it is advisable to have an attorney conduct a trademark availability search to determine if the same or any confusingly similar mark is already in use or on file as a pending application. Contact Orange County Business Attorney Matt Sumrow at (949) 468-3204 or online for information on how to protect your company’s business ideas and intellectual property.