Copyright and Trademark

Protecting Your Invention with Copyright

• What is a copyright, and how is it useful?

  Copyright is a form of protection provided by U.S. law to the authors of “original works of authorship.” This includes:

  • Literary
  • Dramatic
  • Musical
  • Artistic
  • Certain other intellectual works
  • Computer software

  This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. The Copyright Act generally gives the owner of the copyright the exclusive right to conduct and authorize various acts, including reproduction, public performance, and making derivative works.

• Who at UT Southwestern Medical Center handles commercialization of copyrightable materials?

  UT Southwestern follows the Copyright Law of the United States. Management is controlled by the Board of Regents’ Rule 90101 Sections 7 and 8 regarding copyright. Please contact the Office for Technology Development for questions regarding copyright.

• How do I insert a proper University copyright notice?

  Although copyrightable works do not require a copyright notice, the OTD recommends that you use one. For works owned by UT Southwestern, use the following template: © The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, [Year of first publication]. (e.g., © The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, [Year]). Policies and instructions for public release of software source code developed by UT Southwestern faculty, trainees, and employees

Trademark Registration

• What is a trademark or service mark, and how is it useful?

  A trademark is a brand name: any word, name, symbol, device, or combination that is used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from those others, and to indicate the source of the services. A trademark is listed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database of registered and pending trademarks. This provides public notice to anyone searching for similar trademarks. You may use the federal trademark registration symbol, ®, with your trademark to show that you are registered with the USPTO.

• What is trademark registration?

  Trademark registration is a procedure in which the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides a determination of rights based upon legitimate use of the mark. With a federal trademark registration, the registrant is presumed to be entitled to use the trademark throughout the United States for the goods or services for which the trademark is registered.