Intellectual Property Law can be quite confusing at times. Copyrights, trademarks and patents all have a role in protecting your hard earned content and knowing their role is half the battle. Intellectual property in itself refers to the creations of the mind, including such things as: artistic works, literary works, inventions, names, images, symbols, and designs used in commerce. In other words, the intellect that is the possession of an organization or an individual is considered intellectual property. Intellectual property is divided into two categories, copyrights and industrial property. Copyrights give the authors of an exclusive work, exclusive rights to that work for a limited amount of time. Copyrights cover such literary and artistic works as novels, poems, plays, films, songs and other musical works, artistic works (drawings, paintings, sculptures and photographs) and architectural designs. Copyrights, which must be renewed periodically, allow the creators of a piece of work, the opportunity to benefit from that piece of work.

Industrial property includes patents, trademarks, industrial designs and geographic indications of source. Patents give the inventors of a new product, a certain (limited) amount of time in which he/she may prevent others from making, selling or using the invention without authorization. A trademark is an intellectual property protection which is used to protect the distinctive features that distinguish one product from another. Those features can include such things as: symbols, colors, brands, names, sounds, smells, shapes, and signs. Fortunately, Intellectual property laws benefit the creator of a property, by rewarding that creator for his/her innovation and creativity. Also, society as a whole benefits from intellectual property laws, by the fact, that these laws encourage creativity, therefore allowing the rest of us to benefit from the wide range of products and services that are produced.

Home pest control is a serious concern for any home owner. While some pests may simply be a nuisance, others can be dangerous, cause expensive damage or make a home uninhabitable. If you’ve ever had a pest problem before, you know that exterminators can be expensive and won’t always be completely effective. By doing a little research and purchasing the right products, in-house pest management is something you can take care of yourself. Effective home pest management starts with taking preventative measures. Sometimes these can be as simple as relocating bird feeders to discourage squirrels. Moving your firewood pile away from your house will help protect against termites and making sure the pile is free of gaps will discourage snakes. Sometimes home pest control requires a little grounds maintenance, clearing your property of tall grass will keep it free of ticks and removing any rotting wood will discourage wood roaches.

Despite your best efforts you can’t keep your property free of pests forever so you may need to buy some products to use in your home pest control. There are some home pest control products available at your local grocery or hardware store. These products, however, are never as effective as professional products. For larger pests and serious infestations you may need to purchase some professional tools and products. If your efforts require something you can’t find in stores, then the internet is a great resource. Many of the products and tools used by professional exterminators are available on websites. You can find professional pesticides specifically designed for certain pests and the delivery systems needed to spray them. If your pests are larger, like squirrels or raccoons, you can find professional live traps that you can use to capture these invaders. We all want to make sure our homes are safe and free from pests. If you’ve ever hired one before, you know that exterminators can be quite costly. For most common problems you can find all the products you need at the local hardware store. For larger problems you may need to purchase professional products and equipment from the internet. Taking home pest control into your own hands is the best way to both save money and ensure that the problem is eradicated.