Legal services are lawyers, law firms, and providers of services related to intellectual property, incorporation, contract development, law suits, and other legal matters.
They protect a company's intellectual property and may specialize in areas such as patents, licensing, or trademarks. A patent is a document that grants an inventor the sole rights to an invention. In the United States, patents are issued by the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. A patent lawyer can provide advice and experience regarding trade secrets and rights of privacy and publicity. If necessary, unfair competition claims can be submitted before litigation is filed. Unlike a patent, a copyright is a personal property that can be willingly passed, bought, or sold by the owner. Legal services that specialize in copyright law and trademark infringement are commonly available.