Legal Resources and Intellectual Property Protection
Export Legal Assistance Network (ELAN)
In this innovative program, lawyers from the Federal Bar Association volunteer to provide an initial legal consultation free of charge to companies just beginning to export. Under ELAN, knowledgeable lawyers help new-to-export companies learn the legal aspects of international trade. ELAN has regional coordinators throughout the United States, including Minnesota.
Protecting Intellectual Property Rights Abroad
The most comprehensive information on intellectual property rights protection—including the procedures for registering a patent, trademark, or copyright internationally—is found at StopFakes.gov, the U.S. government’s official website to combat IPR violations. As part of this initiative, they also created a hotline (1-866-999-HALT), which is staffed by specialized attorneys who counsel businesses on how to protect their IPR. Country-specific information is provided for:
Helpful IPR Publications
“Experts’ Advice for Small Businesses Seeking Foreign Patents” [PDF]
The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted a study to provide expert advice on how small businesses can protect their innovations on a global basis by obtaining U.S. and foreign patents.“Small Business Primer to Filing for Trademarks in a Foreign Country”
This article from the March 2001 issue of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export America magazine provides information on how to file for a trademark internationally.“Focus on International Property Rights”
This publication by the U.S. State Department explains the importance of IPR protection, describes current international IPR treaties, and discusses new IPR challenges presented by the digital age.
China Intellectual Property Rights Advisory Program
The U.S. Department of Commerce, in cooperation with the American Bar Association, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the American Chamber of Commerce in China, have established a new China Intellectual Property Rights Advisory Program. Through this program, American small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can request a free, one-hour consultation with a volunteer attorney experienced in both IPR issues and the Chinese market to learn how to protect and enforce intellectual property rights (IPR), such as trademarks, patents or copyrights, in China.
World International Property Association
The WIPO is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system.
Department of Commerce Office of Chief Counsel for International Commerce
The Office of the Chief Counsel for International Commerce (OCC-IC) is responsible for legal matters related to the promotion of U.S. trade and investment and the competitiveness of domestic firms abroad. In addition to the information provided on its website, the OCC-IC may provide informal advice to U.S. businesses and attorneys in the private sector.
American Bar Association
The ABA publishes numerous books on the subject of international business and a complete catalog is available on their website.