WASHINGTON (Sept. 4, 2015) — To assist its members in protecting their patents and trademarks, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has created a webpage called “Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights.”
“Protecting the intellectual property rights (IPR) of its members is a top SEMA priority,” the Diamond Bar, Calif.-based trade group said in its SEMA e-newsletter. “The process begins when companies register their patents, trademarks and copyrights with government agencies in the United States (and other countries). Registration is a key to establishing legal rights.”
Material on the webpage explains the different types of IP, including protecting new products (utility patents) and product designs (design patent), identifying the source of the product (trademarks), and protecting product brochures or website designs (copyright). It also contains information on how to register IP along with links to seminars, webinars and SEMA News articles, according to the association.
The Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights overview is not intended as a legal “how to” manual, SEMA noted, but rather as an informational document to help its members “plan today to protect and get the most out of your company's intellectual property.” The overview is supplemented with reference materials provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other government agencies. SEMA recommends “securing the assistance of a qualified attorney to assist in planning and protecting your company's intellectual property rights.”
SEMA said the information contained in the overview is current as of August 2008, but advised that the law is subject to change.
With respect to enforcing IP rights at the upcoming SEMA Show in Las Vegas, which takes place Nov. 3-6, the association said it has “developed an effective policy for pursuing infringement allegations.”
SEMA's IP enforcement policy is posted on the IPR webpage and also is published as part of the Exhibitor Services Manual for the show.