Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property include copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights and trade secrets. Intellectual property law involves advising and assisting individuals and businesses on the development, use, and protection of intellectual property -- which includes ideas, artistic creations, engineering processes, scientific inventions, and more.
Staples is a city in northeastern Guadalupe County, Texas, United States. In an election held on May 10, 2008, its residents voted to incorporate the community as a city. A total of 125 votes were cast with 87 (69.6%) in favor of incorporation and 38 (30.4%) against. The population is approximately 220 and it is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city held its first municipal election on November 4, 2008. Eddie Daffern, an organizer of the incorporation effort, was elected unopposed as Mayor. A total of seven candidates ran for the five Alderman positions. Those elected include Carol Wester, who received 70 votes, followed by Ronnie Clark with 67 votes, Bert "Bubba" Reinke and William A. York – both winning 52 votes, and Shaun Seale with 40. Students living in Staples are zoned to schools in the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District.