Intellectual Property Infringement Threatens $1.2 Trillion Contribution to U.S. Economy, Notes Thrive Law
St. Petersburg, FL (PRWEB) March 21, 2018 -- Over the last decade, there has been a 36% decline in American entrepreneurship startup formation. This slump in startup activity has been accelerated by a steady erosion of the U.S. patent system, which is vital to protecting innovative young companies from larger corporate market predators, according to renowned artrepreneur St. Petersburg law firm, Thrive Law. The resulting increase of infringement of intellectual property (IP) hurts new entrepreneurs and artists financially and threatens to impact the $1.2 trillion contribution made by IP to the U.S. economy.1
As the spirit of entrepreneurialism rises, one of the most common issues for new entrepreneurs is the question of when to establish a business entity and what type of entity best suits the needs of that business. While the procedural steps to set up a legal entity, obtain the appropriate tax identification numbers and implement miscellaneous other legal rudiments can be an annoyance, these are relatively straightforward tasks. The more important issues relate to other considerations, particularly with respect to issues of tax treatment, vesting of shares and governance.
Thrive Law, a legal fixture within the arts community, points out that a fine line exists between intent to profit off unauthorized sales of artists’ works and looking for ways to promote the arts in St. Petersburg.
Jamie Moore Marcario, attorney and creator of Thrive Law, states that “artists need to protect their creative visions, and as an artist and entrepreneur myself, it’s my mission to help them achieve exactly that.”
Online piracy hurts emerging artists. Its impact on established artists is often cited because it’s easier to put a value to it and it’s easily recognizable. However, it’s the damage that occurs beyond the red carpet that really hits home. Independent creators—musicians, visual artists, film producers, photographers and other creatives such as app developers—lose essential income when their works are pirated. Additionally, the consequent loss of income prevents them from creative reinvestment in their work.2 Unauthorized reproduction of an artist’s work amounts to stealing.
Technically speaking, taking a photo of a mural and posting it to Instagram, for example, is considered to be an unauthorized reproduction, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that artists would sue such tourists and other individuals;3 the key lies in whether an artist has registered for a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. Protection of intellectual property is an important step for emerging artists—one that established artists can afford.
“Artists on the verge of establishing themselves need help in transforming their artistic endeavors into an ‘artrepreneurial’ business by identifying and protecting their creative work,” Marcario points out.
Thrive Law, with roots firmly planted in St. Petersburg, made a move into a space in the city’s Warehouse Arts District in February, 2018, to further support and bring attention to the need to protect artists. Its mission—to help artists and other entrepreneurs overcome legal obstacles so that they can thrive by doing what they love in a digital and disruptive age fraught with rampant piracy. “The arts are central to St. Petersburg, and I want my legal firm to be in the center of that economic sector,” Marcario reflected.
To join St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Thrive Law staff at the upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony on March 28, call 727-300-1990.
About Thrive Law
Thrive Law helps creatives and other entrepreneurs overcome legal obstacles so they can be free to do what they love—write, perform, act, paint, compose and innovate creatively. The firm, led by Jamie Moore Marcario, transforms artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors into an “artrepreneurial” business by identifying and protecting creative works. Leveraging its collective experience in the arts and intellectual property protection, Thrive Law identifies and safeguards trademarks and copyrights, while also navigating the maze of financial, tax and insurance details that often stymie and paralyze big ideas. Services are tailored to clients’ needs and budgets, regardless of where they are in their business growth.
For more information, contact http://www.thrivelaw.com.
1. Croom, Sara. “Moving Forward by Protecting Intellectual Property.” The Hill. 13 January 2018. Web.
2. Granados, Nelson. “How Online Piracy Hurts Emerging Artists.” Forbes. 1 February 2016. Web.
3. Spata, Christopher. “He Tried to Profit From St. Petersburg’s Murals, Then Felt the Artists’ Wrath.” Tampa Bay Times. 23 June 2017. Web.
Karla Jo Helms, JoTo PR, http://www.jotopr.com, +1 727-777-4621 Ext: 802, [email protected]
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