This is the fifth edition of a booklet published in 1986. It is a primer to make general attorneys and corporate personnel streetwise about current Intellectual Property ("IP") laws involving patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

Holland & Bonzagni, P.C. (née Holland & Associates) was founded in 1981. Since then, we have changed and so have the IP laws. New IP laws have made it easier to secure patents and trademark registrations throughout most of the world.

For example, years ago a company had to separately file trademark applications in each foreign country it wanted to protect its main brand. Now, a single International Application can cover over 65 foreign countries. Both paperwork and costs are reduced.

Personal liability for corporate IP infringement occurs more frequently now. We have added a section to explain what triggers that liability.

From a humble beginning as a sole practitioner who mostly dealt in the United States, Holland & Bonzagni now protects and licenses its clients' products and services in over 50 countries. Those products range from the food you eat overseas to the money you use to pay for it.

Holland & Bonzagni utilizes both patent attorneys and paralegals to handle clients' international accounts. For those of you who are interested, you can "Meet the Firm" at our website: www.hblaw.org.

Over the years, we have constantly received compliments about the earlier editions of this booklet. I hope you find this revised version just as useful.

Sincerely,

Donald S. Holland, Esq.