Copyright is a concept which promotes the development of creative ideas by granting creators a limited monopoly to their work.
Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution authorizes Congress to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Rights to their respective Writings and Discoveries."
Copyright is secured immediately when an original work is created in a fixed or tangible form. Under current law, a copyright notice is not required.
Works may be registered with the United States Copyright Office. Doing so enables a copyright holder to sue for damages if infrigement occurs.
Works created after January 1, 1978 are protected by copyright for the life of the creator, plus 70 years.
Copyright protection for works created before January 1, 1978 varies. Check the Public Domain tab for tools are available to help determine if a work has entered the public domain.
Most works created in the United States before 1927 are no longer protected by copyright.
Patents and Trademarks are authorized by the same section of the Constitution that governs copyright. Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution authorizes Congress to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Rights to their respective Writings and Discoveries."
As outlined by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, the patent process involves:
Members of the Whitman community who wish to work with the College through the patent approval process should be in contact with the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty. Please consult the My Rights as a Creator tab for more information.
Utility Patent: From the USPTO: "granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new or useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or compositions of matters, or any new useful improvement thereof."
Design Patent: From the USPTO: "granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture."
Plant Patent: From the USPTO: "granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant."
The US Patent & Trademark Office offers a number of webinars and tools to get you started. See Search for Patents.
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