From Edison to iPod

January 29, 2007
The growth of technology, coupled with the speed at which ideas spread, makes it more important for businesspeople to understand the difference between copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and related matters, yet few recent books have managed to translate this complex topic into clear guidelines. Mostert and Apolzon fill this need with a chatty, inviting resource for anyone who's interested in protecting a great idea, but isn't sure whether a trademark, copyright, utility or design patent will do the trick. The authors have boiled down their message so well that a single two-page chart serves as a terrific crib sheet for the entire resource. Yet they also spice up their lessons with bold images, fun tidbits (who knew that Jamie Lee Curtis holds a patent?), notes of caution and definitions. This valuable guide for aspiring entrepreneurial thinkers provides overall principles for thinking through the basics of intellectual property (e.g., establish your idea first), while sharing hands-on tips, such as how to make your trademark distinctive yet not too cute.