Intellectual property is often worth more to a business than its tangible assets. Consisting of business strategies, images, concepts and ideas, lawful protection of intellectual property predates the U.S. Constitution. Now protected by patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, businesses must take the appropriate steps to ensure that their intellectual property is kept safe from competing businesses, defecting partners and even employees. Becoming informed about the available legal tools can mean the difference between success and failure.

Federal intellectual property registration entitles the owner to use trademarks, patents and copyright throughout the United States, and provides some protection internationally as well.
State governments also allow for the registration of intellectual property, although the protection provided is comparatively limited. Furthermore, most state governments will only register trademarks and will not allow the registration of copyrights or patents. In most states, intellectual property registrations are done through the Secretary of State.
Trade Secrets
A trade secret is any piece of information used by a business that isn't known to the general public, including formulas, business plans, designs and procedures. State and federal laws protect trade secrets when other areas of intellectual property law don't offer adequate protection. An example is the formula for Coca-Cola, which remains a secret despite being over 100 years old. This formula cannot be patented because it is considered a recipe, but it can be protected under trade secret laws.
Trade secret law does not provide absolute protection. While the law prohibits competitors from stealing business secrets, they may be figured out by using reverse engineering. Secrets discovered via reverse engineering and then made public lose their protection. Employers wishing to keep employees from taking trade secrets to competitors should look at the Employee section below.
See how the U.S. Department of Labor formally defines a trade secret: U.S. Department of Labor Definition of a Trade Secret.
Employees
Confidentiality agreements and non-compete covenants are most often entered into between employers and employees or business partners. Enforceability of these contracts varies among the states so if you are considering utilizing either, it is recommended that you contact an attorney in your local area.

Confidentiality Agreements
Confidentiality agreements, also known as nondisclosure agreements, ensure that proprietary information disclosed by one party will be kept secret by another party. Such agreements are often the only method to ensure that employees keep trade secrets, allowing both parties to acknowledge that a duty of confidentiality exists, defining the scope of the duty and spelling out the possible remedies or sanctions associated with the breach of the duty.
Non-Compete Covenants
The purpose of a non-compete covenant is to ensure that an employee will not compete against an employer or former employer. Since competitors often recruit each other's employees hoping to gain an advantage, these covenants are especially important. Without such a covenant, a top salesperson leaving to work for a competitor may be able to take a list of important clients, thus harming the business of the original employer.

Selecting a Good Lawyer
Entertainment and intellectual property law cover a very broad spectrum of legal issues involving contracts, patents, trademarks, copyrights and more. The level of expertise of lawyers specializing in these areas can vary from generalists in the field to experts in sub-specialties that may range from information technology to entertainment law. See Selecting a Lawyer to learn more about finding the right lawyer for your business.

Sample Partnership Agreement

This Partnership Agreement is made on [Insert Date] between [Insert Name of Party 1] and [Insert Name of Party 2].

1. Name and Business
   The parties hereby form a partnership under the name of [Insert Business Name] to produce [Insert Business Product/Service]. The principal office of the business shall be [Insert Address].
   
2. Term
   The partnership shall begin on [Insert Date], and shall continue until terminated.
   
3. Capital
   The capital of the partnership shall be contributed in cash by the partners as follows:
   
   • A separate capital account shall be maintained for each partner.
     
   • Neither partner shall withdraw any part of their capital account.
     
   • Upon the demand of either partner, the capital accounts of the partners shall be maintained at all times in the proportions in which the partners share in the profits and losses of the partnership.
     
4. Profit and Loss
   The net profits of the partnership shall be divided equally between the partners and the net losses shall be borne equally by them. A separate income account shall be maintained for each partner. Partnership profits and losses shall be charged or credited to the separate income account of each partner. If a partner has no credit balance in their income account, losses shall be charged to their capital account.
   
5. Salaries and Withdrawals
   Neither partner shall receive any salary for services rendered to the partnership. Each partner may, from time to time, withdraw the credit balance in their income account.
   
6. Interest
   No interest shall be paid on the initial contributions to the capital of the partnership or on any subsequent contributions of capital.
   
7. Management Duties and Restrictions
   The partners shall have equal rights in the management of the partnership business, and each partner shall devote their entire time to the conduct of the business. Without the consent of the other partner neither partner shall on behalf of the partnership borrow or lend money, or make, deliver, or accept any commercial paper, or execute any mortgage, security agreement, bond, or lease, or purchase or contract to purchase, or sell or contract to sell any property for or of the partnership other than the type of property bought and sold in the regular course of its business.
   
8. Banking
   All funds of the partnership shall be deposited in its name in such checking account or accounts as shall be designated by the partners. All withdrawals therefrom are to be made upon checks signed by either partner.
   
9. Books
   The partnership books shall be maintained at the principal office of the partnership, and each partner shall at all times have access thereto. The books shall be kept on a fiscal year basis, and shall be closed and balanced at the end of each fiscal year. An audit shall be made as of the closing date.
   
10. Voluntary Termination
    The partnership may be dissolved at any time by agreement of the partners, in which event the partners shall proceed with reasonable promptness to liquidate the business of the partnership. The partnership name shall be sold with the other assets of the business. The assets of the partnership business shall be used and distributed in the following order:
    

    (a) to pay or provide for the payment of all partnership liabilities and liquidating expenses and obligations;
    
    (b) to equalize the income accounts of the partners;
    
    (c) to discharge the balance of the income accounts of the partners;
    
    (d) to equalize the capital accounts of the partners; and
    
    (e) to discharge the balance of the capital accounts of the partners.

11. Death
    Upon the death of either partner, the surviving partner shall have the right either to purchase the interest of the decedent in the partnership or to terminate and liquidate the partnership business. If the surviving partner elects to purchase the decedent's interest, he shall serve notice in writing of such election, within three months after the death of the decedent, upon the executor or administrator of the decedent, or, if at the time of such election no legal representative has been appointed, upon any one of the known legal heirs of the decedent at the last-known address of such heir.
    

    (a) If the surviving partner elects to purchase the interest of the decedent in the partnership, the purchase price shall be equal to the decedent's capital account as at the date of their death plus the decedent's income account as at the end of the prior fiscal year, increased by their share of partnership profits or decreased by their share of partnership losses for the period from the beginning of the fiscal year in which their death occurred until the end of the calendar month in which their death occurred, and decreased by withdrawals charged to their income account during such period. No allowance shall be made for goodwill, trade name, patents, or other intangible assets, except as those assets have been reflected on the partnership books immediately prior to the decedent's death; but the survivor shall nevertheless be entitled to use the trade name of the partnership.
    (b) Except as herein otherwise stated, the procedure as to liquidation and distribution of the assets of the partnership business shall be the same as stated in paragraph 10 with reference to voluntary termination.
    

12. Arbitration
    Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach hereof, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules, then obtaining, of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. In witness whereof the parties have signed this Agreement.
    

Executed this ______________ day of _________________, [Insert Year] in [Insert City, State].

________________________	________________________
Signature of Party 1	Signature of Party 2