Protecting Your Idea
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Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights
A trademark, servicemark or tradename is a word, name symbol, device or combination thereof, adopted and used by a manufacturer, service provider or merchant to identify goods and services in order to distinguish them from others. A patent gives legal recognition to the inventor, creator or discoverer of a new product, procedure or composition of matter. You may obtain a patent or federal trademark by fulfilling all the requirements of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. For more information, contact:
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The Harold Washington Library Center
400 South State Street
Chicago, Illinois 60605
312-747-4450
TDD: 312-747-4499
State trademarks, servicemarks and tradenames can be obtained through:
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The Secretary of State Business Services
Trademark Division
Room 328 Howlett Office Building
Springfield, Illinois 62756
217-524-0400
A copyright is a form of protection provided to an author of original works including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, sound recordings and certain other intellectual works.