Keller, TX asked in Copyright, Business Law and Intellectual Property for Texas

Q: How to prevent theft of a template/its framework for consulting. End result is a customized digital document each time.

2 Lawyer Answers
Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
Answered
  • Intellectual Property Lawyer
  • Mesa, AZ

A: You can start by registering the copyright.

Enforcement will be up to you, via civil courts.

1 user found this answer helpful

Robert Kost
PREMIUM
Robert Kost
Answered
  • Intellectual Property Lawyer
  • Pittsburgh, PA

A: There's a lot that needs to be unpacked here. What do you mean by "theft"? What do you mean by "template"? What do you mean by "framework"?

If you mean a simple document template (in Microsoft Word, for example), its literal expression may be copyright-able, but the mention of a framework makes one think you are proposing to protect an idea, which copyright will not protect. If the workings of the template can be maintained as a secret, it's also potentially protect-able as a trade secret under state law.

Hope this helps.

1 user found this answer helpful

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