If you don't know what intellectual properties are, two quick things:
1) Wikipedia describes it as "a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of rights are recognized under the corresponding fields of law."
2) You should consider going to the Illinois Small Business Development office at Lincoln Land Community College. It's being held at the Capital City Training Center on June 14 in Springfield.
The seminar, in its own words, "is an opportunity to learn the basics of intellectual property rights protection and enforcement and to discover the resources that are available to to help your business enforce IPR at home and abroad."
It won't turn you into a lawyer, but it will help make you better aware of how to combat counterfeiting, piracy and other ways to cover your butt like obtaining trademarks and copyrights.
Speakers from the United States Patent and Trademark Office will be available for one-on-one meetings, and the luncheon will be presided over by attorney Susan Anthony, who specializes in copyright and domain names at the same office. If you don't mind the drive down to Springfield, give it a look and read more about registration here.
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a columnist for EGM. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
