IP Protection Attorney in Chicago
Protecting intellectual property requires a proactive, multi-layered approach. At Liberum Law, our IP protection attorneys in Chicago develop and implement comprehensive strategies to safeguard trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property assets from infringement and misappropriation.
Our IP protection services include trade secret identification and protection programs, non-disclosure agreement (NDA) drafting and enforcement, employee and contractor IP assignment agreements, IP audits to identify unprotected or underprotected assets, infringement monitoring and enforcement, IP protection policies for businesses, litigation and dispute resolution for IP violations, and IP protection strategies for mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships.
Trade secrets represent a particularly important — and often underprotected — category of intellectual property. Under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) and the Illinois Trade Secrets Act, businesses can seek injunctive relief and damages for trade secret misappropriation. Our attorneys help businesses implement the reasonable measures needed to maintain trade secret status.
Contact our IP protection attorneys at Liberum Law for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I protect my company's intellectual property?
Identify and catalog your IP (trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, designs), register what should be registered, ensure employees and contractors sign IP assignment agreements, use NDAs for sensitive disclosures, mark works appropriately (© and ™/®), monitor for infringement, and enforce when needed.
What is an IP audit?
A structured review of all IP assets your company owns or uses — registrations, applications, contracts, internal materials, third-party licenses, open-source dependencies. Identifies gaps (unassigned IP, expired registrations) and risks (infringement exposure, license breaches). Common before fundraising, M&A, or major product launches.
Do I need to register everything immediately?
Prioritize by value. Core brand trademarks: yes, file as early as possible (priority of use matters). Software code: copyright registration if you plan to enforce against piracy. Patents: yes if the invention is critical and patentable. Less important IP can wait, but document creation dates.
What is trade secret protection?
Protection for valuable confidential information not generally known — formulas, processes, customer lists, algorithms. Requires reasonable security measures: NDAs, access controls, employee training, marking, exit interviews. Trade secrets can last indefinitely but are lost if disclosed publicly.
How do I enforce my IP rights?
Cease-and-desist letters (often resolve issues without litigation), USPTO opposition/cancellation, DMCA takedowns, Amazon Brand Registry takedowns, social platform takedowns, customs recordation (CBP), arbitration, and federal court litigation. We assess and execute the right enforcement strategy.
