The Four Types of Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

If you own a business or are thinking about starting a new business, you should familiarize yourself with what is known as intellectual property. Intellectual property is a phrase used to describe certain legal rights that people may hold over "creations of the mind," such as works of art, writing, inventions, designs, ideas, music, or choreography. There are four main types of intellectual property -- copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks.

Copyrights

The Four Types of Intellectual Property

A copyright is a form in intellectual property that protects the original authors of both published and unpublished creations. The rights of authorship for these works remain solely the possessions of the originator for a specified period of time under copyright law. Once the time period has elapsed, then these works are open to others for reproduction and republication.

Copyrights are registered through the U.S. Copyright Office. Copyrights filed in or after 1978 will last for the entirety of the author's life plus 70 years after his or her death.

Patents

Patents are legal property rights applied to inventions (as opposed to works of any kind of art or literacy), and they must be distributed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Typically, patents apply to such items as processes, machines, manufacturing designs, biological discoveries, or "compositions of matter."

Like copyrights, patents are available to the inventors for only a certain period of time before they expire. Patents generally last for 20 years after the date on which the patent application is filed.

Trade Secrets

Trade secrets are practices, designs, formulas, processes, recipes, or ideas used by a company that allows it to gain leverage in its industry. Typically, trade secrets are kept hidden by one's own means, as opposed to being protected through government policies such as patents or copyrights. An example of self-protection commonly used with trade secrets is locking the pertinent information away in a bank vault. Since trade secrets lack legal protection, once they are leaked to the general public, they are available for use by anyone.

Trademarks

Trademarks include any words, phrases, symbols, logos, designs, or devices that are used in association with a particular brand or good in order to distinguish it from other products of that industry. Trademarks are used for identification purposes, and are legally protected once they have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The Four Types of Intellectual Property
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If you would like to learn more about intellectual property, please visit http://slaterandkennon.com/

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Physical Therapy Exercises for Balance

As a physical therapist, we understand that good balance is a foundation for all movement activities as well as functional activities. In physical therapy, we strive to maximize a person's quality of life by focusing on several categories including strength, posture, mobility, gait and function. Having good balance, is the foundation for each one of those categories. By performing balance exercises, you help to strengthen the appropriate muscles in your lower legs that are needed for movement activities. Having an aligned center balance point helps the individual to have an upright posture which reduces friction on the joints, thereby decreasing pain in the joints and surrounding muscles. Balance training is the key to having good posture. Equilibrium exercises also help to enhance mobility. By having a good balanced base of support, the extremities are able to produce force and complete the tasks efficiently. Furthermore, having to balance is critical for gait. When we walk, we spend time balancing on one foot during the stance phase of walking.

Consequently, practicing balance exercises for standing on one foot is essential for maintaining stability while walking. Balance training is essential to perform before starting a stretching program. Stability exercises will help you stay grounded while you reach out to touch your toes or reach back behind you to stretch the back. Many stretching positions can put you in a position of being off balanced. That is why it is essential to practice equilibrium routines before you start to stretch. Finally, having good stability is critical for all functional movements including our activities of daily living. We all need balance skills for reaching overhead into a cupboard without falling backwards. Additionally, moving from sitting to standing requires stability so that we do not fall forwards when we get up. Going up and down stairs also requires balance abilities to maintain proper momentum and to keep from tripping and falling. As physical therapists, we know that good balance is a foundation required to perform all these movements.
Physical Therapy Exercises for Balance

In physical therapy, we apply balance activities to most of the exercises that we have our patients perform. For example, to increase balance skills, or to build strength and core muscles as well as help those sore shoulder muscles heal, we can add standing on a soft or uneven surface while performing shoulder strengthening exercises. To help build muscle strength that supports arthritic knees, we often train the hamstring and quadriceps muscles to perform strengthening exercises while on a balance board. The added challenge of imbalance enhances strength and balance abilities at the same time. Additionally, in therapy we make sure to challenge our postoperative hip and knee replacement folks with their balance during walking. We often add obstacles like stepping over cones or on and off different size steps to advance coordination, proprioception and stability. Who says physical therapy can't be fun?
Physical Therapy Exercises For People With Balance Problems

Physical Therapy Exercises for Balance

Some of us Physical Therapists have gone on to specialize in patients who have balance problems and dizziness issues. Our specialty is classified as Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapists. We work with individuals specifically on foundational balance routines and exercises to eliminate vertigo. In Vestibular Rehabilitation, we instruct patents in detail how to find their balance, how to use proper balance techniques when walking and moving. We evaluate each individual and determine which equilibrium exercises are suitable for their recovery. One of my greatest joys is to watch the journey of folks going from a history of falling and having a fear of falling to applying specific balance techniques and exercises which lead them to a life of stability and higher quality of life.

Physical Therapy Exercises for Balance
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The author is a licensed Physical Therapist who specializes in balance and dizziness disorders. The author has developed the Exercise For Balance DVD for you to learn the specific balance techniques and balance exercises needed to improve stability, prevent falls and enhance your fitness regime in the comfort of your own home. For the price of one copay you can have an expert balance trainer lead you through a balance program that will strengthen your balance abilities and take you to the next level of fitness or sports competition. For more information, see http://www.exerciseforbalance.com

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Anti-Aging Products for Acne Prone Skin

So, you've resigned yourself to the fact that although your teenage years are long gone, you still have acne. Or, you have looked in the mirror in disgust wondering why your skin is worse now than ever before. You find yourself buying acne products that are either geared towards teenagers or come with a hefty price tag - at the drugstore, no less! But, things could be worse, right? Yes, they certainly could - you could have acne and dry, wrinkled skin.

Before delving further into this topic, let me first acknowledge the wide variety of treatments available to acne sufferers through a dermatologist. If you have severe acne you should be under the care of a dermatologist. I am a firm believer in obtaining treatment advice from a professional and using the best treatments available, which in most cases are prescription drug products. However, it is estimated that only about twenty percent of acne sufferers are under the care of a dermatologist. If you are among the eighty percent or so who treat their acne with over the counter products, this article is for you.

What are your options for anti-aging skincare when you suffer from acne? First, reevaluate your skin. Reports of acne in women fall steadily between the ages of 20 to 40, but many women fall into the habit of using the same products year after year. Have you fallen into a rut? Second, it is important to realize that the most important over the counter treatment for acne, benzoyl peroxide, can easily be incorporated into any anti-aging skincare regimen. Salicylic acid, which is used to a lesser extent in over the counter acne preparations, can usually be substituted with other components.

Anti-Aging Products for Acne Prone Skin

The key to incorporating anti-aging products into your acne regimen is to understand the functions of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide is used as an anti-microbial to inhibit Propionbacterium acnes, the bacteria associated with acne. Salicylic acid is an anti-inflammatory agent that can also be used to exfoliate the over-proliferated skin cells that begin the acne cycle. To be effective these must be used on a consistent basis, since they are preventative treatments, meant to inhibit the bacterial growth and inflammatory response that causes a pimple. However, both chemicals can be extremely harsh; at high concentrations, benzoyl peroxide is used as an industrial bleaching agent, and salicylic acid as a corn and wart remover. The lifecycle of an acne lesion takes the following course:

Over-proliferation of skin cells in the sebaceous gland build up, clogging the duct

Sebum begins to accumulate eventually forming a comedone; changes in sebum composition allow overgrowth of P. acnes.

Enlarged follicle ruptures under skin.

Inflammatory response triggered, resulting in a pus-filled acne lesion.

The trick to blending acne and anti-aging skin regimens is to choose products that contain ingredients that have multiple benefits. Although the following is not an exhaustive list, look for the following in anti-aging products if you are interested in over the counter acne control with anti-aging benefits:

For over-proliferation of skin cells:

Vitamin A derivatives such as retinyl palmitate or retinol.

Exfoliants more mild than salicylic acid, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, or proprietary formulas that stimulate enzymatic cell turnover.

For inhibition of P. acnes:

Linoleic or linolenic acid, from sources such as cotton seed, linseed, or sunflower seed, believed to normalize sebum composition and suppress P. acnes.

Benzoyl peroxide in the mildest concentration you can find, around 2.5% in a gel or cream form.

For inflammation:

Vitamins E, C, and B3 as tocopheryl acetate, ascorbyl palmitate and niacinamide, respectively, to reduce inflammation.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 and palmitoyl oligopeptide

For discoloration due to scarring or inflammation:

Niacinamide

A good general daytime regimen includes the use of a mild cleanser, followed by benzoyl peroxide, sunscreen, and moisturizer. At night, cleansing should be followed by an anti-aging serum or cream containing multiple components from the list above, followed by a nighttime moisturizer containing a source of linoleic acid. For best results, follow for at least 4 - 6 weeks before deciding if the regimen is right for you. Some report an initial purging upon beginning use of vitamin A derivatives, but the initial increase in the appearance of comedones should steadily decrease as your pores clear.

Anti-Aging Products for Acne Prone Skin
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Nicole is a research scientist with over 20 years experience. She is the co-author of several patents and peer reviewed journal articles. She is naturally interested in the science of skin care and beauty products. She welcomes comments and suggestions for future articles.

Questions? Find Nicole at http://www.facebook.com/scienceyouthbeauty

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How to Enter Foreign Markets

Which foreign markets

The profit potential of a foreign market will differ from company to company. The decision on which market to enter, lies not only within the potential of a company to increase its profitability, but also the risks associated with doing business in that specific country. Preference should be given to countries that are more attractive in terms of long run profit potential.

When should you enter

How to Enter Foreign Markets

Another important decision to make, is when to enter a foreign market. The entrepreneur should decide whether he wants to gain a "first to market" advantage and build sales volume, but then also run the risk of a product not establishing itself in the new market. The alternative is to wait for a competitor to enter the chosen market first, and then reverse the "first to market" effects.

The scale of entry

Entering a market on a large scale implies that that the company will have to invest in significant resources, which will definitely make it easier to attract customers and distributors - simply because it may create the impression that the company is in the market to stay there.

However, by entering on a small scale, the company can learn about the foreign market and thus limit the risks associated with trotting in unknown waters.

Ways of entering a foreign market

Exporting

This is the least risky way to enter foreign markets, as it avoids the substantial costs of establishing manufacturing operations in the new market. A disadvantage of exporting is that high transportation costs can make exporting uneconomical.

Turnkey projects

Turnkey projects can be described as exporting process technology to other countries. In a typical project, the contractor agrees to do the training of operating personnel, above other similar start up activities, so that at the end of the contract period, the foreign client is handed the "key" to a plant that is ready for full operation.

Licensing

This is an agreement whereby a licensor grants the rights to intellectual property (patents, inventions, copyrights etc.) to another company (licensee) for a certain period. The licensor would benefit from royalty fees without having to bear the development costs and risks associated with operating in a foreign market.

Franchising

The Franchiser sells intellectual property to the franchisee, but also contractually forces the franchisee to abide by strict rules as to how it does business. As with licensing, the franchisor typically receives a royalty payment. The franchisee assumes the costs and risks of opening in a foreign market.

Joint ventures

A joint venture is formed when two independent companies establishes a firm that is jointly owned, one of which is a local company. The two companies would typically contribute a team of managers to share operating control. A joint venture enables a firm to benefit from a local partner's knowledge of the host country's competitive conditions, culture, language, political systems and business systems and also to share costs.

Wholly owned subsidiaries

In a wholly owned subsidiary, the firm owns all the stock. The firm can either set up a new operation in that country, or it can acquire an established firm in the host nation.

How to Enter Foreign Markets
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Compiled by C. Stroebel, founder of topentrepreneur.co.za

Reproduction of this article is encouraged, but must include a link pointing to http://www.topentrepreneur.co.za

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