Trade Secrets

Success in a global economy depends more and more on intellectual property (IP) assets. In fact, IP-based businesses and entrepreneurs drive more economic growth in the United States than any other single sector.

Unfortunately, intellectual property has captured the attention of pirates and organized crime. Today, piracy, counterfeiting, and the theft of intellectual property pose a serious threat to all U.S. businesses. Industry estimates of the cost of such theft range from $250 billion to 750,000 jobs per year. These threats to ongoing invention and innovation make it important to consider securing IP protection, whether you're a major multinational firm or a one-person home business. Small businesses. Big questions.

While every IP-based business is vulnerable to piracy and counterfeiting, small businesses can be at a particular disadvantage because they lack the resources and expertise available to larger corporations. Small businesses may also lack the familiarity with the process of protecting intellectual property. Research conducted in the spring of 2005 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indicated that only 15 percent of small businesses that do business overseas know that a U.S. patent or trademark provides protection only in the United States.

It has never been more essential for you to consider patenting your idea or registering your name as a trademark, especially if you are a small business owner or are starting a small business.

The USPTO has created a Web site to help small businesses consider the benefits of strong IP protection—both in the United States and overseas—and decide whether it is right for them. This site includes important information on whether and when to file for intellectual property protection, what type of protection to file for, where to file, and how to go about it.

Patents

A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor. Patents are granted for new, useful, and non-obvious inventions for a period of twenty years from the filing date of a patent application, and provide the right to exclude others from exploiting the invention during that period.

Patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, the term of a new patent is twenty years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees.

U.S. patent grants are effective only within the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. possessions.

Trademarks

A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. In short, a trademark is a brand name.

A service mark is any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from the services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services.

Click here to read more...

Free, Personalized Technical Advice Available at ITAC Online Solutions

Have you ever had a technical question, or needed research assistance, but you didn't know where to turn or who to ask? ITAC can provide the answers you need through ITAC Online Solutions. Online Solutions is a NO-COST technical assistance service that provides technical, business, research and information assistance quickly and easily. The Online Solutions service includes an on-line library of information with a database of technical business and engineering documents and resources. If you can't find exactly what you need in the library, Online Solutions includes a technical, marketing and problem-solving "Ask an Expert" hotline service that ITAC also provides FREE to our customers. Click here to find answers to your business questions at ITAC Online Solutions.

Upcoming Events

Artisan FastTrac
Date: October 3, 2006
Cost: $600

Artisan FasTrac is a new interactive workshop focused on the NYC Art Community whose main objective is to introduce the artisan to the business environment, enable them to commercialize their art and develop a strong business. It is a comprehensive entrepreneurial program that assists the start-up entrepreneur in developing their business concept and evaluating it through each step of the business planning process.

For more information, contact Sonia Moin at 212-442-2990 or smoin@itac.org.

Supervisory Training
Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Location: ITAC offices, 253 Broadway, #302, NYC
Cost: $250 per participant, $200 each additional participant.

Supervisory Training is geared toward supervisors and managers who lack formal training, want to refine their existing skills, and/or want to learn new skills. You will learn how to improve your communication skills, increase productivity and minimize time spent on employee management issues, and more.

For more information, contact Rose-Anne Angus at 212-442-2990 or emaili her at rangus@itac.org for more details.

Funding Innovation: Access and Opportunities
Date: Thursday, October 12, 2006,
from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm
Location: 290 Broadway at Duane, 30th Floor, NYC
Free

A panel discussion on how to fund early stage businesses and capitalize on R&D grants. Participants will find out how to partner with academic institutions such as SBIR, SBA and SATOP to access funding.

For more information, contact Rose-Anne Angus at 212-442-2990 or emaili her at rangus@itac.org for more details.

Lean Manufacturing Workshop
Date: Thursday, November 2, 2006,
from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: ITAC offices, 253 Broadway, Suite 302, New York, NYC
Free

Would you like to produce faster, better and less expensively with your existing resources? What if, in doing so, you could increase your sales, improve customer satisfaction and increase profitability? Principals and key managers at local manufacturing firms should attend this workshop to learn how Lean Manufacturing techniques help firms produce more with existing resources by eliminating non-value added activities. Workshop simulation exercises help participants experience first hand how Lean techniques increase space utilization, improve quality, reduce cycle time, improve delivery performance, and reduce work-in-process. Application of Lean techniques enables firms to increase profits, improve customer satisfaction and become more competitive.

For more information, contact Mei Sit at 212-442-2990 or email her at msit@itac.org for more details.

About ITAC

ITAC is a non-profit economic development organization dedicated to creating and retaining jobs for New Yorkers. We provide indepth one-on-one technical assistance for New York City manufacturers and technology firms to help them stay competitive in the marketplace. ITAC's unique combination of business expertise and expert resource network makes us a valuable partner to help NYC companies grow, change and thrive.

ITAC receives significant financial support from the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR), New York's high-technology economic development agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). ITAC serves as NYSTAR®'s designated Regional Technology Development Center for New York City and one of nearly 350 MEP locations across the country and works directly with regional companies to increase their competitiveness and profitability.

September 2006

Succession Planning:The Key to the Future

Trade Secrets

Free, Personalized Technical Advice Available at ITAC Online Solutions

Upcoming Events

About ITAC


	September 2006 Succession Planning: The Key to the Future Trade Secrets: Intellectual Property Issues for Small Businesses Free, Personalized Technical Advice Available at ITAC Online Solutions Upcoming ITAC Events About ITAC Succession Planning:The Key to the Future Succession planning is a systematic methodology for ensuring that the company has the leadership and management talent to sustain growth and profitability into the next decade. While the strategic and long-range plan sets forth the vision and strategic direction of the enterprise, the succession plan identifies the company's future organizational needs in terms of the skills, knowledge and abilities of its leaders, key managers and associates. Succession planning helps organization to build their capabilities by acquiring and developing the company's human resources. Click here to read more...	ITAC's MoveSmart Program and Nulux Make Headlines
	Trade Secrets Success in a global economy depends more and more on intellectual property (IP) assets. In fact, IP-based businesses and entrepreneurs drive more economic growth in the United States than any other single sector. Unfortunately, intellectual property has captured the attention of pirates and organized crime. Today, piracy, counterfeiting, and the theft of intellectual property pose a serious threat to all U.S. businesses. Industry estimates of the cost of such theft range from $250 billion to 750,000 jobs per year. These threats to ongoing invention and innovation make it important to consider securing IP protection, whether you're a major multinational firm or a one-person home business. Small businesses. Big questions. While every IP-based business is vulnerable to piracy and counterfeiting, small businesses can be at a particular disadvantage because they lack the resources and expertise available to larger corporations. Small businesses may also lack the familiarity with the process of protecting intellectual property. Research conducted in the spring of 2005 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indicated that only 15 percent of small businesses that do business overseas know that a U.S. patent or trademark provides protection only in the United States. It has never been more essential for you to consider patenting your idea or registering your name as a trademark, especially if you are a small business owner or are starting a small business. The USPTO has created a Web site to help small businesses consider the benefits of strong IP protection—both in the United States and overseas—and decide whether it is right for them. This site includes important information on whether and when to file for intellectual property protection, what type of protection to file for, where to file, and how to go about it. Patents A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor. Patents are granted for new, useful, and non-obvious inventions for a period of twenty years from the filing date of a patent application, and provide the right to exclude others from exploiting the invention during that period. Patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, the term of a new patent is twenty years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees. U.S. patent grants are effective only within the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. possessions. Trademarks A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. In short, a trademark is a brand name. A service mark is any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from the services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services. Click here to read more... Free, Personalized Technical Advice Available at ITAC Online Solutions Have you ever had a technical question, or needed research assistance, but you didn't know where to turn or who to ask? ITAC can provide the answers you need through ITAC Online Solutions. Online Solutions is a NO-COST technical assistance service that provides technical, business, research and information assistance quickly and easily. The Online Solutions service includes an on-line library of information with a database of technical business and engineering documents and resources. If you can't find exactly what you need in the library, Online Solutions includes a technical, marketing and problem-solving "Ask an Expert" hotline service that ITAC also provides FREE to our customers. Click here to find answers to your business questions at ITAC Online Solutions. Upcoming Events Artisan FastTrac Date: October 3, 2006 Cost: $600 Artisan FasTrac is a new interactive workshop focused on the NYC Art Community whose main objective is to introduce the artisan to the business environment, enable them to commercialize their art and develop a strong business. It is a comprehensive entrepreneurial program that assists the start-up entrepreneur in developing their business concept and evaluating it through each step of the business planning process. For more information, contact Sonia Moin at 212-442-2990 or smoin@itac.org. Supervisory Training Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 Location: ITAC offices, 253 Broadway, #302, NYC Cost: $250 per participant, $200 each additional participant. Supervisory Training is geared toward supervisors and managers who lack formal training, want to refine their existing skills, and/or want to learn new skills. You will learn how to improve your communication skills, increase productivity and minimize time spent on employee management issues, and more. For more information, contact Rose-Anne Angus at 212-442-2990 or emaili her at rangus@itac.org for more details. Funding Innovation: Access and Opportunities Date: Thursday, October 12, 2006, from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm Location: 290 Broadway at Duane, 30th Floor, NYC Free A panel discussion on how to fund early stage businesses and capitalize on R&D grants. Participants will find out how to partner with academic institutions such as SBIR, SBA and SATOP to access funding. For more information, contact Rose-Anne Angus at 212-442-2990 or emaili her at rangus@itac.org for more details. Lean Manufacturing Workshop Date: Thursday, November 2, 2006, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Location: ITAC offices, 253 Broadway, Suite 302, New York, NYC Free Would you like to produce faster, better and less expensively with your existing resources? What if, in doing so, you could increase your sales, improve customer satisfaction and increase profitability? Principals and key managers at local manufacturing firms should attend this workshop to learn how Lean Manufacturing techniques help firms produce more with existing resources by eliminating non-value added activities. Workshop simulation exercises help participants experience first hand how Lean techniques increase space utilization, improve quality, reduce cycle time, improve delivery performance, and reduce work-in-process. Application of Lean techniques enables firms to increase profits, improve customer satisfaction and become more competitive. For more information, contact Mei Sit at 212-442-2990 or email her at msit@itac.org for more details. About ITAC ITAC is a non-profit economic development organization dedicated to creating and retaining jobs for New Yorkers. We provide indepth one-on-one technical assistance for New York City manufacturers and technology firms to help them stay competitive in the marketplace. ITAC's unique combination of business expertise and expert resource network makes us a valuable partner to help NYC companies grow, change and thrive. ITAC receives significant financial support from the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR), New York's high-technology economic development agency, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). ITAC serves as NYSTAR®'s designated Regional Technology Development Center for New York City and one of nearly 350 MEP locations across the country and works directly with regional companies to increase their competitiveness and profitability.