I am not an expert on this stuff but, I am knowledgeable enough to be frustrated. Any creative person needs know about trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Here is my birds eye view of these things. Trademarks allows a company to prevent other companies from using a distintive symbol and misrepresenting it. Copyright allows creators to control when their work is copied. By default, nobody can copy something they didn't create without permission. Patents allow creators to control an invention. These items are frustrating to creators like me because they are infinitely complicated and its difficult to know when you are playing by the rules. In fact, the rules seem largely defined by larger companies. The internet is starting to create a larger barrier for big companies to push others around. Here is a good example of how this can happen. Millions of people have now become more aware then ever about this small audio cable company. They will see more sales then ever. Monsters lawyers caused more good fortune for bluejeanscable then they could have ever imagined. I expect they will have to work quite hard to meet their new demand. This could never have happened without the internet.