PowerPoint Presentation Section 8.1 Pages 121127 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups What you’ll learn How to protect the product or service your business is offering The laws that affect the start up of a business Where to get legal advice 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups Why it’s important There is no aspect of a business that is not affected by a law. You will save time and money if you learn about business laws in advance. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups Key Terms patent patent-applied-for patent-pending copyright public domain 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups Key Terms trademark service mark contract consideration capacity 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups I. PROTECTING YOUR IDEAS How do you protect a marketable idea for a product or service? 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups II. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROTECT? The group of laws that affects how ideas are protected is called intellectual property. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups III. PATENTS A. A patent is a grant to an inventor that gives him or her the exclusive right to produce and sell an invention. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. A patent lasts for 21 years. C. There are four rules to determine if a product is patented. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups 1. The invention must not contain prior art. 2. The invention must fit into one of five classes. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups Machine Process Articles of manufacture Composition A new use for one of the four categories 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups 3. The invention must be “unobvious.” 4. The invention must have utility. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups IV. THE PROCESS A. File a disclosure statement with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). B. Include $25 to process. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups C. Confirm that you are the inventor. D. Within two years, an application must be filed with the PTO. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups V. THE PATENT SEARCH A. Patent-applied-for status means that the public can’t look at the application and drawings. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. If the PTO declares that one’s claims are accepted, the patent is patent-pending status until the patent is issued. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups VI. COPYRIGHTS A. A copyright protects original works of the author. B. A copyright lasts for 50 years. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups C. After 50 years, the work goes into public domain--it can be used by anyone free of charge. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups VII. TRADEMARKS A. A trademark is a word, symbol, design, or combination of these that a business uses to identify itself or something it sells. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. Trademarks are followed by the registered trademark symbol ®. C. A service mark is a design or symbol that describes a service business. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups VIII. LAWS AFFECTING STARTING UP YOUR BUSINESS Certain legal requirements are fundamental to your ability to do business. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups IX. PERMITS AND LICENSES A. A business permit from your local government allows you to do business in your community. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. Certain professions require licenses which show you have the necessary education and training to do the job. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups X. CONTRACTS A. A contract is a binding legal agreement between two or more persons or parties. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. A contract must contain four parts to be binding. 1. Agreement 2. Consideration--what is exchanged for the promise 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups 3. Capacity--being able to enter into a binding agreement 4. Legality 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups XI. CHOOSING A LOCATION Where should you locate your business? 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups XII. CONTRACTS A. Cities typically designate particular areas, or zones. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. Laws that relate to the actual construction of a facility are called building codes. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups XIII. LEASING A. A lease is a contract to use a facility or equipment for a specified period of time. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups B. The lessee is the person leasing. C. The ownership rights belong to the lessor. 8.1 Legal Issues Facing Start-Ups End of Section 8.1