Having the great idea, creating the magnificent work of art, or coming up with the next fad is only the first step to cashing in on your creativity and hard work. Next up is protecting your intellectual property. This book is for anyone who is intrigued by those three not-so-little words: patents, copyrights, and trademarks. That means you, if: you think you might be the next Thomas Edison or may be another J.K. Rowling; your company has recently developed a bold new corporate logo or eye-catching trademark; you're thinking of a new concept in software, one that can revolutionize the entire manufacturing process; and, you've just dreamed up the latest in 'latest things'. Patents, Copyrights & Trademarks For Dummies explains, in layman's terms, the basic nature, function, and application of intellectual property (IP) rights, including how you can acquire those rights, wield them effectively against your competitors, or exploit them lucratively through licensing agreements and other rewarding adventures.This book covers all of these critical concepts, and more: working with IP professionals; presenting a patent explanation; determining what is copyrighted and what isn't; protecting your commercial identity; inspecting the basic elements of a license; determining infringement; and, avoiding the ten worst naming blunders. With this book at you side, you'll have a solid grasp of the processes involved in acquiring, registering, maintaining, and protecting the intellectual property rights due you and/or your company. You'll be able to make informed decisions and speak confidently with the IP professionals you meet along the way. And you'll have the tools and knowledge to take care of much of the work involved in the various research and registration processes.