Ideas, characters, plots, designs, stories, paintings, photos, titles, names, logos, brands-it's enough to drive one crazy if you don't know your copyright from your trademark from your trade secret. But never fear-help is only a 90-minute program away. Noted IP attorney Michael Lovitz, author of The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, offers the first of three fun and informative programs, which taken together are designed to provide you with a basic foundation in intellectual property law and related areas, including securing and enforcing your rights, contracts and licensing, fair use, parody, social media and much more. This first installment focuses on "The Basics" in an effort to provide a foundation for understanding the different intellectual property rights available to creators and business owners and teach ways to protect those rights, focusing on how best to safeguard ideas, inventions, works of authorship, characters, brands and names, from conception through publication and beyond. Attendees are invited to participate in an interactive discussion about basic rights provided under U.S. copyright and trademark laws, including their intersection with new media, as well as new decisions and changes in the law and how they could affect those rights (and if time permits, he'll touch on issues of joint authorship, fair use, parody and/or piracy). Along the way, there will be plenty to learn about the protections available, as well as the numerous potential pitfalls, under the U.S. trademark and copyright systems. Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]