Trademarks protect words, names, symbols, sounds, or colors that distinguish goods and services. Trademarks, unlike patents, can be renewed forever as long as they are being used in business.

Copyrights protect work of authorship, such as writings, music, and works of art that have been tangibly expressed. The Library of Congress registers copyrights which last for the life of the author plus 70 years.

Patents is a property right granted by the Government of the Dominican Republic to an inventor “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the Dominican Republic or importing the invention into the Dominican Republic” for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.

Licensing gives permission to use an intellectual property right within a defined time, context, market line, or territory. A trademark or service mark can be validly licensed only if the licensor controls the nature and quality of the goods or services sold by the licensee under the licensed mark.

Franchising is a business relationship in which the franchisor (the owner of the business providing the product or service) assigns to independent people (the franchisees) the right to market and distribute the franchisor’s goods or service, and to use the business name for a fixed period of time. The International Franchise Association defines franchising as a continuing relationship in which the franchisor provides a licensed privilege to do business, plus assistance in organising training, merchandising and management in return for a consideration from the franchisee.

E-Commerce has a broad practice area that can include issues pertaining to patents, copyrights and trademarks, as well as licensing, jurisdictional and commercial law issues.