ESB - Entrepreneurship and Small Business Intellectual Property Protection Questions and Answers

Question 1

A new coffee shop owner develops a unique name and logo to distinguish her business from competitors.
To prevent other local shops from using a similar name or logo that could confuse customers, which form of intellectual property protection is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Trademark

Answer

Patent

Answer

Copyright

Answer

Trade Secret

Question 2

Which of the following forms of intellectual property is automatically granted to the creator of an original work, such as a blog post, a photograph, or software code, as soon as the work is fixed in a tangible medium?

Accepted Answer

Copyright

Answer

Patent

Answer

Trademark

Answer

Trade Secret

Question 3

A small sauce company has a secret recipe for its best-selling product. To protect this valuable information, the company requires employees to sign confidentiality agreements and restricts access to the recipe. This recipe is best protected as a:

Accepted Answer

Trade Secret

Answer

Utility Patent

Answer

Design Patent

Answer

Copyright

Question 4

An inventor creates a new and useful machine for automating a manufacturing process. To gain the exclusive right to make, use, and sell this invention for a limited period of time, which form of intellectual property protection should they pursue?

Accepted Answer

A utility patent on the machine's functional aspects.

Answer

A copyright on the machine's design drawings.

Answer

A trademark on the machine's name.

Answer

A trade secret by keeping the machine's existence confidential.

Question 5

A software entrepreneur writes the source code for a new mobile application and also designs a unique name and logo for the app. Which combination of intellectual property protections is most appropriate to safeguard both the code and the branding?

Accepted Answer

Copyright for the code and Trademark for the name/logo.

Answer

Patent for the code and Copyright for the name/logo.

Answer

Trademark for the code and Copyright for the name/logo.

Answer

Trade Secret for the code and Patent for the name/logo.

Question 6

Before discussing a new, unpatented invention with a potential manufacturing partner, what is the most critical first step an entrepreneur should take to protect their confidential information during the discussion?

Accepted Answer

Have the potential partner sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Answer

Publish the invention's details online to establish a public creation date.

Answer

File for a trademark on the invention's name.

Answer

Orally inform the partner that the information is confidential.