According to the NSPE Code of Ethics, engineers may seek indemnification for services arising out of their practice for other than gross negligence. Since my firm and I did not act under gross negligence, it is acceptable to take steps to protect my firm. Describe the major tools used to protect intellectual property. The major types of protection are trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and patents. Trademarks protect a mark or name.
Copyrights protect an original expression which is fixed in a tangible way, like a book.
They cannot be used to protects ideas, methods or processes. Trade secrets and patents protect ideas, methods and processes. Trade secrets must be kept a secret and provide indefinite protection. Patents require full disclosure and give the inventor the right to prevent other people from practicing the invention for 20 years. Use it to determine the number of patents issued to Dell, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Motorola in the 1990's by filling in the table below.