Provides information on intellectual property law including copyright and patent law. There are also resources to help people research patents and copyright law in jurisdictions around the world including America and Europe.
Recommended Resources
A Brief History of the Patent Law in the United States
Explains the evolution of American patent law since the 1600s, with a timeline of recent developments. The document is based at Ladas & Parry LLP, an intellectual property law firm.
http://www.ladas.com/Patents/USPatentHistory.html
Canadian organization that assists users of copyrighted materials in Canada. Copyright use for educators, institutions, businesses and others are explained.
http://www.accesscopyright.ca/
AEL, the Association Electronique Libre, is a non-profit organization with a mandate for finding and supporting non-proprietary software.
http://www.ael.be/
AHRC Copyright Research Network
British research organization dedicated to the study of copyright law. Past conferences organized by the network have examined performer’s rights, copyright law in Europe and value creation.
http://www.copyright.bbk.ac.uk/
All About Trademarks is a website that provides general and legal information about trademarks and trademark law. It is maintained by Greg Guillot, a lawyer. You can find about both federal and US state trademark laws, as well as international trademark law issues.
http://www.ggmark.com/
American Intellectual Property Law Association
The American Intellectual Property Law Association specializes in the practice of intellectual property law. Web site includes analyses of copyright, trademark and patent issues.
http://www.aipla.org/
American Patent and Trademark Law Center
Law center located in San Diego. Independent patent attorneys assist clients with patent, trademark and copyright matters. Visitors to the site can access free information on patents and trademarks, submit an IP-related question, or request a search and opinion letter.
http://www.patentpending.com/
ACID is a British organization that seeks to protect the intellectual property of designers in the UK. You can get legal tips here to find out how to protect your designs, and find out about ACID's lobbying efforts to get the government to improve IP strategy.
http://www.acid.uk.com/
Arab Society for Intellectual Property
The Arab Society for Intellectual Property was established to provide assistance to Arab countries in the field of intellectual property rights.
http://www.aspip.org/
Avantiq is an Internet company that seeks to serve the trademark community with high quality search techniques to protect and augment their intellectual property. The company provides both online and offline services, including access to trademark databases and ownership investigations. You can find out about the Avantiq's activities through the news section.
http://www.avantiq.com/
The BitLaw website is a legal resource covering many subjects of technological law. Prepared by Minneapolis law firm Bek & Tyser, the website is best at covering American legal issues. You can find out about copyright, software patents and Internet law here.
http://www.bitlaw.com/
Brand Intelligence is a service that seeks to provide and defend the brands that are attacked and counterfeited. The website also provides news reports on efforts to protect copyright and enforce intellectual property. The company can also help your company prevent unauthorized logos.
http://www.brandintelligence.com
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Provides information on Canadian patents, copyright and intellectual property law. Patents, trademarks and copyrights registered in Canada can be searched through this website.
http://cipo.ic.gc.ca
Provides information about the Christian Copyright Licensing International that provides solutions to copyright issues. Includes sections for license holder and copyright owners.
http://www.ccli.com
CDT, the Center for Democracy and Technology, is a non-profit organization which works to promote democratic values and constitutional liberties in the digital age.
http://www.cdt.org/
Center for Intellectual Property Policy
Provides research and university level training in intellectual property policy including legislation and trade. Training opportunities include exchanges, graduate training and undergraduate training.
http://www.cipp.mcgill.ca/en/
Center for the Study of the Public Domain
Research organization dedicated to studying public domain law in the United States. The Center has projects underway to research the scientific, institutional and history of the public domain.
http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/
Canadian government agency that regulates copyright issues and holds public hearings on copyright matters. The Board’s decisions and proposed tariffs can be accessed here.
http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/home-accueil-e.html
Government agency in India responsible for copyright matters. Comprehensive information on all of India’s copyright rules and legislation can be found here.
http://copyright.gov.in/
Copyright registration office. How to protect your work from infringement, plus information on laws, notices, and intellectual property protection.
http://www.copyrightwitness.com
The United States Copyright Office is an agency of the American government that monitors copyrights and patents. You can find it how to register her work document or other materials through the site. You can also search patented items through this site. You can also read the offices publications here.
http://www.copyright.gov
Web site explains the importance and procedures for respecting digital copyright and intellectual property rights; including how to ask permission to use images on the web.
http://library.thinkquest.org/J001570/
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that offers an alternative to full copyright; offering work under a numer of Creative Commons licenses.
http://creativecommons.org/
CSUSA, the Copyright Society of America, is dedicated to enhancing awareness and fostering interest and advances in copyright law.
http://www.csusa.org/
Delphion Intellectual Property Network
The Delphion Intellectual Property Network assists with the searching, viewing, as well as the analyzing of patent collections worldwide.
http://www.delphion.com/
The Digital Consumer is a non-profit organization advocating the protection of intellectual property, fair use and copyright in the digital environment.
http://digitalconsumer.org/
Directory of Intellectual Property Offices
Provides information on copyright, patent and intellectual property offices from governments around the world. The listing covers both national and regional intellectual property offices.
http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/urls.jsp
This web page details in depth how to send Digital Millennium Copyright Act notices to the major search engines, including Alta Visa, AlltheWeb, AOL, Ask, Google and Yahoo!
http://www.seologic.com/faq/dmca-notifications.php
EFA, the Electronic Frontiers Australia, is a non-profit organisation created to protect and promote the civil liberties of users of computer-based digital communications systems.
http://www.efa.org.au/
EGE INC is a non-profit organization supporting the creation, identification, fair use, and funding of digital non-proprietary intellectual works, including free music, literature, and software.
http://ege-inc.org/
EIF (European Internet Foundation) Online is a non-profit organization created to help shape European Union policy for e-commerce, e-democracy and the digital revolution.
http://www.eifonline.org
EPO Online Services is a service for attorneys and others who need to conduct business with the European Patent Office. You can prepare a patent for filing, search for previous patents and pay patent related fees on this website. The website is also available in German and French.
http://www.epoline.org/
Is a great tool to look for new patents, including chemicals. The search has sub-features to let you look for crazy patents and university patents. You can also search for computer, software, imaging, and drugs patents here.
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/
Freshpatents.com offers a detailed listing of recent patent applications in the USA; complete with keyword search, as well as an RSS feed to keep up-to-date.
http://www.freshpatents.com/
Law firm provides legal services pertaining to trademarks only, including dealing with completing applications, filing for trademark registrations, and searching for the correct trademark.
http://www.gerbenlaw.com/
GILC, the Global Internet Liberty Campaign, is a non-profit organization working for cyber-liberties while preserving civil liberties and human rights on the internet.
http://www.gilc.org/
The GPL Violations Project is dedicated to raising public awareness about past and present infringement of GPL licensed software. Web site includes news and events.
http://www.gpl-violations.org/
IETF, the Internet Engineering Task Force, is a non-profit organization concerned with the evolution of the internet, digital copyright, and intellectual property rights.
http://www.ietf.org/
IIA, the Internet Industry Association, is a non-profit organisation of content creators and publishers, as well as web developers concerned with digital copyright and intellectual rights.
http://www.iia.net.au/
IIPI, the International Intellectual Property Institute, is a non-profit organization supporting the use of intellectual property as a tool for economic growth, particularly in developing countries.
http://www.iipi.org/
Intellectual Property Law Server
This website provides information focused in intellectual property law covering patent, trademark and copyright areas. The website also provides news and articles concerning intellectual property law and it also has intellectual property job listings, forums and an IP blog. You can also search for IP service providers in your country.
http://www.intelproplaw.com
Intellectual Property Office (UK)
Provides registration and protection for intellectual property in the United Kingdom. There is also an explanation of intellectual property crime and news.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/
Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand
Provides information on the intellectual property laws of New Zealand. Patents, trade marks, designs, plant variety rights, copyrights can all be registered through this office.
http://www.iponz.govt.nz/
Intellectual Property Owner's Association
The Intellectual Property Owner's Association (IPO) represents the interests of those who create intellectual property. The Association website also has information on the legal protections that currently exist to safeguard this form of property. The website also has scholarships for studies relating to intellectual property.
http://www.ipo.org/
Intellectual Property Owners Association
Commercial organization that represents the interests of those who own intellectual property. Articles and reports are available on copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks and patents.
http://www.ipo.org
Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia
Australian research organization which encourages research into intellectual property. The Institute publishes reports, books, working papers and occasional papers.
http://www.ipria.org/
The web site for IP Justice, a non-profit organization, provides information about its mandate to promote balanced digital copyright and intellectual property laws.
http://www.ipjustice.org/
Publication dedicated to current issues in intellectual property. There is also a directory of firms with expertise in forensic accounting, domain management and pharmaceutical law.
http://www.ipworld.com/
The IPR-Helpdesk serves as a reference point for digital copyright and intellectual property rights inquiries throughout the European Union, particularly with regard to trademark and patent issues.
http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/
IPSANZ, the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand, is a non-profit organisation which provides a forum for the dissemination and discussion of IP matters.
http://www.ipsanz.com.au/
Japan Intellectual Property Association
The Japan Intellectual Property Association represents Japanese industries and users of digital copyright and intellectual property around the world.
http://www.jipa.or.jp/english/index.html
The official website of Lawrence Lessig provides information about the writings and activities of this noted American law professor. You can also download free copies of Lessig's books here including "Code and other laws of Cyberspace," and "Free Culture." You can also read Lessig's blog on this site.
http://www.lessig.org
NetAction is a non-profit organization created to educate the public, policy makers, and the media about technology-based digital, social and political issues.
http://www.netaction.org/
NSRC, the Network Startup Resource Center, is a non-profit organization which has been involved for over a decade in the deployment and integration of digital property.
http://www.nsrc.org/
The Open Source Advisory Service provides guidance about free and open source software, as well as related digital and intellectual property standards.
http://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/
Patentmatics is devoted to propagating the science, technology and management of Digital Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights around the world.
http://www.patentmatics.org/
PatentStorm provides a full-text patent database and offers U.S. patents in PDF format. The website provides patents on a wide range of subjects such as agriculture, home, food, machines, industrial and a lot more. The website also allows you to browse patents by inventors, examiner or by date. The website also provides helpful patent resources.
http://www.patentstorm.us
PFIR, the People For Internet Responsibility, is a non-profit organization concerned about the current and future state of the internet, digital copyright, and intellectual responsibility.
http://www.pfir.org/
PIPLA, the Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association, advocates intellectual property rights, increased knowledge and the development of patent, trademark and copyright law.
http://www.pipla.org/
Public Knowledge is a public interest advocacy group dedicated to promoting the public interest in access to information as it pertains to digital and intellectual property rights.
http://publicknowledge.org/
Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute
Research institute dedicated to intellectual property, especially in the United Kingdom. The Institute also has a large archive of publications exploring various aspects of intellectual property including public domain, patents, and plants.
http://www.qmipri.org/
Search and Advisory Service, Intellectual Property Office (UK)
Provides research services on patents in the United Kingdom. Services include freedom to operate patent searches, patentability, patent mediation and other more.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/sas.htm
Software in the Public Interest
Software in the Public Interest is a non-profit organization which was founded to help develop and distribute open hardware and software.
http://www.spi-inc.org/
The Software Patent Institute is a non-profit organization created to provide courses and prior art about software technology to help improve the overall patent process.
http://www.spi.org/
The Trademark Application and Registration Retrieval (TARR) system of the US Patent and Trademark office helps you register and protect your trademarks. You can also find out about the current status of trademarks, and get technical support if you have trouble registering your trademark.
http://tarr.uspto.gov/
Ten Big Myths About Copyright Explained
Web site clears up some common confusions about copyright issues, including the 10 biggest myths about copyright; with digital and intellectual rights explained.
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS)
Professional organization that represents the copyright interests of UK writers and ensures that they are compensated. UK writers can also search for royalties that they are owed.
http://www.alcs.co.uk/
The Eurasian Patent Organization (EATO)
Provides information on patents in central Asian countries such as Russia, Belarus, and Turkmenistan. There is also information on how to apply for a Eurasian patent.
http://www.eapo.org/index_eng.html
Provides information on patents registered in the European Union. Laws, legal decisions and other background information on patents in Europe can also be accessed.
http://www.epo.org/
Trademark is a specialized trademark research service provided by the Thomson Company. With more than seventy million trademarks, you can easily find what you need here. The website covers not only North America, but also Germany, the United Kingdom and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
http://www.trademark.com/
Online trademark registration services provided by a U.S. trademark attorney.
http://www.trademarkaccess.com/trademark-attorney
TypeRight advocates for the importance of fonts and typefaces. You can find information on how fonts are being protected by copyright, as well as a useful guide to ethical type design. You can also sign up for the TypeRight petition to get fonts recognized by the US Copyright Office and Congress.
http://www.typeright.org/
The Union for the Public Domain (UPD) is a non-profit organization with a mission to protect and enhance the public domain in matters concerning intellectual property.
http://www.public-domain.org/
Find out about the US system of patents, trademarks, copyrights and more. Provides an inventor support section as well as regularly updated news.
http://www.uspto.gov/
World Intellectual Property Organization
International organization that supports intellectual property law. There are also copies of intellectual property treaties and patent search functions provided by the organization.
http://www.wipo.int/
