The following are a few readings in intellectual property. I tried to focus the supplemental readings on software issues. I will try to appropriate a high tech patent lawyer for our discussion board.
As we shift to a knowledge economy, intellectual property becomes part of the company's core assets. Internet and Computer Venture Capitalists approve seed funding largely (not totally) based upon the intellectual property position of the intended company. Product niches and premium royalties are largely defined by the company intellectual property position.
Google Patent Search - Easy and Free, just like Google is. It's for the USA patents
United States Patent Search – Free searches of patents! It gets better every year. You might also grab alternatiff to view the patent images. It’s free! Furthermore, unlike google, it also has the database of patent applications (not yet patents).
The Canadian Patent Server - You can do free searches on Canadian patents. The great advantage of this database is that many patents are simultaneously submitted to the United States and to Canada (usually through making an international PCT patent application, but sometimes the inventor simply submits straight to each country's patent office). In Canada, the patent application is exposed to the public. You can examine the application at the Canadian database. The nice thing is that it allows free viewing of pdf files rather than images. The resolution is much better than the other free servers. Oh Canada!
European Patent Office - This is the electronic repository of patents and applications held by members of this office. This means most countries of Western and Northern Europe. Until you get used to its system, the patent search conventions feel unorthodox. Yes, it's free.
Supplemental Readings
"Cliff Notes" on Intellectual Property (PDF format) - This is a quick thumbnail summary. Large parts are taken from other sources.
This first group of readings comes from Fenwick & West, they have one of the largest intellectual property groups on the west coast. An associate of mine used to work there and he alerted me to their excellent series of papers on computer related intellectual property.
Securing and Protecting a Domain Name on the Internet - This was one of the first "hot button" IP issues for the internet.
Advanced Copyright Issues on the Internet - Growing at a phenomenal rate, the internet has been the focus of intense copyright case law.
Software Look & Feel - The so-called look and feel of the software interface can be protected.
United States Trademarks Database - This is the USPTO's free trademark database, which includes the full bibliographic text of pending and registered trademarks. Pending trademark applications are usually entered in the PTO database approximately three months after filing; thus, pending trademark data for the preceding three months are incomplete. A full explanation of the trademarks database can be accessed through the home page here.
United States Copyrights Office - Contains a searchable database for filed copyrights as well as lots of information and forms.