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Legal Myths

By Maryl Joop


When an average person hears the word 'intellectual property' many people think about patents and inventions, but intellectual property law covers way more than just things that have been physically invented. Intellectual property law oversees the scope of anything that can be imagined into existence.

The courtrooms of America and of Utah are special places of ritualized traditions and strict laws that are all designed to impose order and the serious nature of the various situations that bring persons into the courtroom in the first place. Because of the multitude of observances that are often unknown by the general public in Utah at large, a person who is heading into a court room for any reason should know how to appropriately act while in the courtroom itself.

Luckily, the Utah State Bar association has compiled a list of helpful hints and reminders for all who enter a Utah courtroom. In addition to the following helpful reminders of proper courtroom behavior and observances, a person who is going into a courtroom in Utah should remember to ask their litigation attorney in Utah to receive clarification on any of the proceedings that may be confusing to the individual.

If you find yourself in need of images, search for items that fall under creative commons licensing. You can research creative commons and there are several websites devoted entirely to providing creative commons images to content makers. Let's say that you own a company and you need to have some software written or a website designed to help your business grow. You don't have the specialized skills necessary to make that happen so you hire an independent contractor to do the job. If you're paying them to create intellectual property for your company, you're safe, right?

One of the first tips the Utah State Bar gives to people who may be appearing before a judge in the court system is to come early to one's hearing or court appearance. Being on time, and even better to be early to the courthouse, will not only be in compliance with the court's strict policies of punctuality on the part of individuals but will also allow for other possible benefits such as being moved to the front of the line or simply having the opportunity to collect one's self and prepare for the hearing.

That being said, a good contract or legal document should be as far from confusing as possible. The goal of a legal document is to clearly state conditions so that any involved parties understand and agree to the exact terms. It is a good idea to have a professional review your legal document, to make sure everyone is protected, but make sure that they don't turn it into a confusing mess.

Whether you need to protect the next big technological advancement, your top secret cookie recipe, or exclusive web content, or your company logo, an attorney can help you do all of that and more. Whether your 'invention' can be patented or not, it is important that you know what needs to be done to protect your creative endeavors.

While there are many other mannerisms and courtroom regulations that can be learned beforehand, the above are some of the basic rules and tips that can help those entering a courtroom in Utah to be prepared for the experience.




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