Maryland law

Intellectual Property Laws in Maryland.

Intellectual-property disputes are largely driven by federal law, but Maryland businesses and creators still face state-law issues involving trade secrets, contracts, unfair competition, confidentiality, and ownership disputes. The legal path depends on whether the problem involves patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, or a business-relationship fight over who owns what.

Last verified: 2026-04-17

State law

Key Maryland Statutes

Maryland Uniform Trade Secrets ActMd. Code Ann., Com. Law §§ 11-1201 et seq.

Maryland’s trade-secrets statute governs misappropriation of confidential business information and is central to employee-mobility and unfair-competition disputes.

Federal Copyright Act17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.

Copyright ownership and infringement are primarily federal issues, but Maryland creators and businesses often pair those claims with state contract and ownership analysis.

Lanham Act15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.

Trademark and false-designation disputes are usually governed by federal law, even when the business relationship and marketplace confusion issues arise in Maryland.

State law

Official Sources

Maryland General Assembly — Statutes U.S. Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Copyright Office

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in Maryland.

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Intellectual Property Laws in Maryland.

Key Maryland Statutes

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

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