Foley IP Law

Your employee came up with the idea at work. Your company owns it, right?

That's a question with a more complicated answer than many business owners expect.

Think about everything employees might create in the course of building a business. Someone designs a new logo, writes website copy, develops software, creates a new product, improves a process or contributes to an invention. That work may become incredibly valuable to the company over time, which makes understanding who actually owns it important from the beginning.

The answer can depend on what was created, how it was created, the employee's role, the type of intellectual property involved and what the company's agreements say.

For example, copyright law has specific rules around work created by employees within the scope of their employment. Patents bring different ownership considerations into the conversation, particularly when employees are inventors. Agreements assigning intellectual property rights can help make everyone's expectations much clearer before a valuable idea turns into a valuable asset.

This is one of those areas where businesses can run into trouble simply because everyone assumed they were on the same page.

As companies grow, they're constantly creating intellectual property, sometimes without even realizing it. Taking the time to understand who owns what can save a lot of confusion later.

Sometimes the experiment that looks wrong is the one worth looking at twice.

In 1965, chemist Stephanie Kwolek was working with polymers at DuPont when one of her experiments produced something unusual. Instead of the thick, clear solution she expected, she was looking at a cloudy liquid that was thin enough to pour almost like water.

It would have been easy to assume the experiment had failed. Kwolek thought there might be something interesting about it and pushed to have the solution spun into a fiber so it could be tested.

She was right.

Her work led to the development of Kevlar, an incredibly strong, lightweight fiber that would eventually find its way into protective vests, aircraft components, cables, tires, boats and many other applications. Kwolek herself later said she hadn't originally imagined its use in bullet-resistant vests.

We love stories like this because they show how unpredictable innovation can be. An inventor may begin by trying to solve one problem and discover something with applications no one could have anticipated at the time.

Kwolek's story is also a wonderful reminder to stay curious when something doesn't turn out quite the way you expected. Sometimes that's exactly where the interesting part begins.

IP Is More Present in Everyday Life Than You Might Think

Before most people begin their workday, they have already interacted with countless forms of intellectual property. The phone they use, the software they open, the brands they recognize, the music they stream and even the products they wear can all involve different types of IP protection.

That everyday presence offers an important perspective on what intellectual property actually does.

Consider a smartphone. The technology that allows it to function may involve patented inventions. Its name and logo can be protected through trademarks. Software, graphics and other creative elements can involve copyright, while certain ornamental aspects of the device may qualify for design patent protection.

In other words, a single product can represent multiple intellectual property assets protecting different types of investment.

The same principle applies across industries. Athletic shoes may combine patented performance technology with valuable trademarks. Household appliances may incorporate functional innovations, distinctive designs and recognizable branding. Companies may also rely on confidential formulas, algorithms, manufacturing techniques or internal processes that could qualify for trade secret protection.

Brands are another important part of the equation. A company name or logo helps consumers identify the source of goods or services. As a business grows, those identifiers can accumulate significant value by representing the trust and reputation the company has built in the marketplace.

Technology is making these questions even more relevant. As businesses increasingly use AI to develop content, software, designs and research, questions around creation, ownership and protection are becoming part of conversations well beyond legal departments.

At its core, intellectual property law addresses the relationship between innovation, creativity, ownership and commerce. Businesses of every size create, use and rely on IP, often as part of their everyday operations.

Recognizing those assets is an important first step toward protecting them.

Great ideas get a lot of attention, but there’s usually a tremendous amount of work behind them.

This Labor Day, we’re celebrating the inventors, entrepreneurs, creators, business owners, and teams who put in that work every day. The ideas we eventually see as products, businesses, brands, and innovations often began with someone willing to keep working at something they believed could be better.

Here’s to the people behind the ideas.

Happy Labor Day from Foley IP Law.

We have an exciting week coming up in Las Vegas for Running Legal Like a Business 2026!

This year, Foley IP Law is proud to sponsor ADAPT.legal’s IP Mix & Mingle on September 9, bringing members of the IP community together for an evening centered on connection, conversation, and the experiences shaping our profession.

Sarah Foley will also be joining Ashley Cheung of Virtual Patent Gateway for a live podcast conversation on September 8, where they’ll discuss intellectual property, AI, entrepreneurship, and some of the challenges founders face as they grow their businesses.

We’re looking forward to a great week of learning, sharing ideas, and connecting with colleagues across the legal and IP communities.

If you’ll be at RLLB, we hope to see you there!

Some of the best inventions happen by accident. Others happen because someone knows what to do with the accident.

Ruth Graves Wakefield is often credited with inventing the chocolate chip cookie after adding chopped pieces of chocolate to a batch of cookie dough at the Toll House Inn.

Whether the story happened exactly that way has been debated over the years, but what isn't up for debate is the impact her recipe had. It became one of the most recognizable desserts in America and eventually led to a partnership with Nestlé that helped make chocolate chips a household staple.

It's a great reminder that innovation doesn't always come from a laboratory or a research facility. Sometimes it starts in a kitchen, with curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to try something new.

Behind many products we use every day is someone who saw an opportunity where others might have seen a mistake.

Next month, the Foley IP Law team will be in Toronto for the 2026 IPO Annual Meeting, joining intellectual property professionals from around the world for one of the industry's leading conferences.

The IPO Annual Meeting brings together attorneys, in-house counsel, business leaders, and innovators to explore emerging trends, share practical insights, and discuss the issues shaping the future of intellectual property.

We're looking forward to engaging in conversations with colleagues across the IP community, learning from industry leaders, and connecting with clients and peers throughout the week.

If you'll be attending, we'd love the opportunity to connect.

See you in Toronto!

The conversation around artificial intelligence continues to evolve, and so does the way businesses are approaching it.

Early discussions focused on what AI could do. Today, the conversation is becoming more practical. Organizations are developing policies, setting expectations, and evaluating where these tools can genuinely improve the way they work.

That shift is an important one.

The goal is not to adopt every new platform or keep pace with every headline. It is to understand where AI can create value, where additional oversight is needed, and how innovation can be implemented responsibly without compromising quality or trust.

Technology will continue to move quickly. Thoughtful decision making will always be the foundation for long-term success.

A product's competitive advantage isn't always found in how it works. Sometimes it's found in how it's recognized.

When most people think of patents, they think about protecting functionality. Design patents serve a different purpose by protecting the ornamental appearance of a product, including the visual features that distinguish it in the marketplace.

For many businesses, those visual elements become part of a product's identity. From consumer electronics and medical devices to packaging and industrial products, distinctive design can influence purchasing decisions, strengthen brand recognition, and create meaningful competitive differentiation.

As product markets become increasingly crowded, companies are placing greater emphasis on protecting every aspect of their intellectual property portfolio. In many cases, that means pursuing design patent protection alongside utility patents, trademarks, and other IP rights to build a more comprehensive strategy.

Understanding which aspects of a product create value and how those assets can be protected is an important part of developing an effective intellectual property strategy.

Next month, the Foley IP Law team will be heading to Las Vegas for Running Legal Like a Business 2026, where industry professionals will come together to discuss the future of the legal industry.

We're also proud to co-sponsor ADAPT.legal's IP Mix & Mingle on September 9. Designed to foster meaningful conversations and new connections, the event brings together members of the IP community for an evening centered on storytelling, collaboration, and the experiences that shape our profession.

If you'll be attending RLLB, we'd love the opportunity to connect. We hope you'll join us for the ADAPT happy hour and say hello throughout the conference.

See you in Las Vegas!

Learn more and RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gMk9G9u4