Intellectual property has expanded dramatically throughout the world, and Puerto Rico is no exception. Whether you are an author, business, or non-profit, Vela Córdova Law can help you meet these challenges.
Below are some of the issues that you may wish to consider.
Trademarks
Puerto Rico has a dynamic marketplace that requires close attention to local and federal trademark issues. See our trademarks page for a full description of how we can help.
Copyright
Copyright law is as technical as it is important. Vela Córdova Law can help you meet its challenges, such as...
Two legal systems, not one. Puerto Rico is subject to both U.S. federal copyright and local moral rights law.
Copyright registration. If you have authored important works such as books, music, or paintings, they need to be registered both in Puerto Rico and the U.S. to be fully protected in court. We can help you decide what to register, and handle the process.
Getting what you pay for. You may be surprised to learn that just because you pay someone to create a logo, software, or other custom work doesn’t mean that you own the rights to that work. So it's important to know whether you need to own these rights, and how to get them.
Websites
Websites operating in Puerto Rico are subject to U.S. federal law, but Puerto Rico also has special legislation dealing with privacy, data protection, spyware, and other matters.
Publicity rights. Puerto Rico has strong legislation protecting a person’s name, image, and other identifying characteristics -- and the age of consent is 21, not 18.
Trade secrets. Although Puerto Rico law protects trade secrets in a way similar to other U.S. jurisdictions, there are special rules when it comes to employment, franchises, and other areas.
Distribution laws. Unlike most U.S. jurisdictions, Puerto Rico has strong legislation protecting distributors and sales representatives.