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Get Law-Savvy and Protect Your Work

Published

8 years ago

March 23, 2016

INSTORE Staff

While it’s sometimes confusing to distinguish between copyright, trademark and patents, the correct combination can help you protect your intellectual output as a jeweler. Sara Yood, assistant general council for the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, gives you preview of her SMART Show session, Intellectual Property Law for Jewelers.

by Sara Yood, assistant general council for the Jewelers Vigilance Committee

I focused on studying intellectual property in law school, and worked in this field both before and after school. I truly enjoy helping non-lawyers understand the nuances of intellectual property – how to distinguish between them, and how to understand which one will best protect their work.

Briefly: Copyright can protect original designs and drawings; trademark can protect logos, brand names, slogans, and some patterns; and a patent can protect an original invention, such as a new piece of machinery or a new business method.

While it is sometimes confusing to distinguish between these three intellectual property rights, the correct combination can help you protect your intellectual output as a jeweler.

My presentation, Intellectual Property Law for Jewelers (sponsored by the Women’s Jewelry Association), focuses on learning the differences among these three rights, as well as understanding what qualifies for protection, how to go about registering for protection, and some practical application of these laws in the jewelry industry.

There are some things that cannot be protected by intellectual property law, such as the public domain in copyright law and generic terms in trademark law – we’ll review those as well. We’ll also take a quick detour into publicity rights (the right of celebrities to control their likenesses) and how they affect advertising your products to the public.

I strongly encourage you to come armed with questions or to send questions in advance to me at sara@jvclegal.org. I’m pretty good at rapid-fire questions (thanks, law school), but it’s even better when I have a bit of time to prepare.

I’ll be ready to offer guidance on protecting yourself and your intellectual property, and I hope you’ll be ready to learn!

Sara Yood, Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) assistant general counsel, is an attorney admitted to practice in the states of New York and New Jersey, with extensive experience in intellectual property law.

This Third-Generation Jeweler Was Ready for Retirement. He Called Wilkerson

Retirement is never easy, especially when it means the end to a business that was founded in 1884. But for Laura and Sam Sipe, it was time to put their own needs first. They decided to close J.C. Sipe Jewelers, one of Indianapolis’ most trusted names in fine jewelry, and call Wilkerson. “Laura and I decided the conditions were right,” says Sam. Wilkerson handled every detail in their going-out-of-business sale, from marketing to manning the sales floor. “The main goal was to sell our existing inventory that’s all paid for and turn that into cash for our retirement,” says Sam. “It’s been very, very productive.” Would they recommend Wilkerson to other jewelers who want to enjoy their golden years? Absolutely! “Call Wilkerson,” says Laura. “They can help you achieve your goals so you’ll be able to move into retirement comfortably.”