The materials discussed above are only a general survey of the rules regarding intellectual property protection that may be relevant for engineers. If you have specific questions, contact a knowledgeable professional or an appropriate organization. Both the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Copyright Office have public inquiry units that can be reached through their Web sites or by written correspondence or telephone inquiries.

Note that most of the patents and copyrights that are issued do not result in substantial revenue to the owner. Before going through the process of protecting an idea, think carefully if it is worth the time and effort to do so. If your goal is recognition or prestige, rather than profit, you must determine how valuable such benefits are before you proceed.

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