About This Guide

Over the last 50 years of owning and operating small businesses of a variety of types, from a computer repair company to retail jewelry stores to an internet based school, I have watched many small businesses lose big investments due to theft of intellectual property. From patentable ideas to jewelry designs to written website content and domain names, small businesses tend to believe that without big money to pay lawyers there is nothing they can do to protect their intellectual property. This is not true and last year I set out to get the legal information on how small businesses can protect their intellectual property rights in a cost effective manner.

It was a bit strange being a 68 year old law school student, studying through the online program of the University of Pennsylvania Law School regarding Intellectual Property Rights and Procedures. But my purpose was to find the formal legal answers for small businesses regarding intellectual property rights, and then make that legal information understandable for all small businesses. I went on to complete the Business Law Certificate from the Cornell Law School, Cornell University because I realized there was more legal information required to fully explain the concepts to small businesses.

This book is the culmination of that study and effort, to provide you, the small businessperson, with quality information regarding how to protect your intellectual property rights. I am not a lawyer, and this should not be considered legal advice. But it is legal information based on solid law school teaching that every small business person needs to read.

I hope it is of service to you.

Robert James FGA, GG
Property and Casualty Adjuster, Texas Department of Insurance
President, Global Claims Associates
President, International School of Gemology