M. F. Malooley, Brooks Kushman P.C., Southfield, MI

Summary: Globalization: Intellectual Property Issues Intellectual property has been described as a “bundle of rights”. Unlike real property or personal property, intellectual property is intangible. Therefore, the rights associated with intellectual property require different mechanisms to protect them. This presentation gives an overview of the various bodies of law that may be applicable to different types of intellectual property—e.g., trademark law, copyright law, trade secret law, and patent law. Different countries have different levels of protection in each of these areas of law; however, the trend has been toward harmonization in the international community. Included in the presentation is a discussion of some of the international treaties and agreements relevant to companies doing business in the global marketplace. Also included is a discussion of issues to be considered by companies before, during, and after they enter the global market, in order to protect their intellectual property.