TEI 039: What Product Managers Need to Know about IP Protection

Global Product Management Talk is pleased to bring you episode
039 of... The Everyday Innovator with host Chad
McAllister, PhD. The podcast is all about helping people involved
in innovation and managing products become more successful, grow
their careers, and STANDOUT from their peers. Our
Guest: Patents, trademarks, and copyrights make my head spin.
But, any good product manager or innovator needs to consider the
intellectual property issues when developing a product.
Consequently, I asked patent attorney Dan Brean of the Webb Law
Firm in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to help all of us Everyday
Innovators navigate the IP issues with new product development. Dan
is an experienced patent litigator and prosecutor, primarily
working with mechanical, electrical, and software technologies, so
he brings a good mix of hardware and software IP experience. He
also teaches at the University of Pittsburgh school of law. Of the
many topics covered, one question asked is... What are the
forms of IP protection and how do product managers know which ones
they should consider? Utility patents are most common and
cover the utilitarian value of a invention – something that
performs a useful process.Design patents cover the ornamental
appearance of a object or user interface – the aesthetic aspects of
a design. Many inventions fall under utility patent and design
patent protection.Trade secrets is anything that is kept
confidential and has a commercial advantage to it. A famous example
is the formula for Coca-Cola’s Coke
beverage.Trademarks protect brand names or logos or other
characteristics that specify a brand.Copyright protection is
for artistic works.