AURALEN
Intellectual Property & Legal Protection Guide
Prepared for Jonathan Love Pyles — April 5, 2026
Confidential — For advisory & legal review
What You Own
Trademarkable Names & Brands
Auralen
Brand name
EmojiDex
Gamification system
Sprout / Fern / Sequoia
Tier naming system
My Precious
Easter egg category
Find Your Frequency
Tagline
Discover Your Inner OS
Tagline
🌿 AURALEN logo
Logo mark
9 Domain names
auralen.one, .live, .quest, etc.
Copyrightable Original Content
| Content | Protection | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 36 archetype pair narratives | Copyright (automatic) | Register for enforcement |
| 6 archetype names & descriptions (Bridge, Anchor, Fluid, Oracle, Soother, Integrator) | Copyright + possibly Trademark | Register |
| 6 shadow pattern descriptions | Copyright (automatic) | Register |
| 25Q + 111Q assessment questions | Copyright (automatic) | Register — HIGH priority |
| Scoring methodology (multipliers, bands, shadow heat) | Trade secret | Keep confidential |
| Comparison engine (6 relationship contexts) | Copyright + trade secret | Keep confidential |
| All emoji messages (“You chose to grow...”) | Copyright (automatic) | Automatic |
| Website copy, marketing text | Copyright (automatic) | Automatic |
| Visual design (dark tropical theme, color palette) | Trade dress | Document it |
| 432Hz ambient music track | Copyright | Verify ownership/license |
Trade Secrets
These are protected by keeping them confidential — no registration needed, but they lose protection if disclosed.
- Scoring algorithm (archetype multipliers: Bridge 1.10, Anchor 1.10, Fluid 1.00, Oracle 0.95, Soother 0.90, Integrator 1.00)
- Question-to-archetype mapping (which questions score which archetypes)
- Shadow heat calculation formula
- Output band thresholds (Dormant/Emerging/Mixed/Strong/Signature)
Action: These are in your private GitHub repo. Never make the repo public. Consider NDAs for any future developers.
What You Don’t Own
Open Source Frameworks
- Next.js (Vercel — MIT License)
- React (Meta — MIT License)
- Tailwind CSS (MIT License)
- Supabase (Apache 2.0 License)
Key point: You can use these commercially for free. You don't own them, but you have a perpetual license to use them. Your application built WITH them is yours.
Third-Party Services
- Supabase infrastructure & Auth system
- Vercel hosting platform
- PayPal payment processing
- Anthropic's Claude AI model
- Google/GitHub/Twitch/X OAuth
- Libre Baskerville font (OFL License — free commercial use)
Key point: You use these under their terms of service. You can switch providers at any time. Your DATA in these services is yours.
Generic Concepts (Cannot Be Owned)
- Personality assessments as a category
- Archetype-based models (Jung originated)
- Using emojis for gamification
- Dark mode web design
- AI chatbots for Q&A
- Subscription tier pricing models
Key point: These are common patterns anyone can use. Your SPECIFIC implementation and content is what you own.
AI-Generated Code & Content
The Big Question: Do You Own Code Written by AI?
Short answer: Yes, under current Anthropic terms. Anthropic’s Terms of Service state that you own the outputs generated by Claude, including code. You can use it commercially, modify it, and build on it.
The nuance: Copyright law is still evolving around AI-generated works. The US Copyright Office has indicated that purely AI-generated content may not be copyrightable on its own. However:
- You directed every aspect of what was built (your vision, your requirements)
- You made creative decisions (design, naming, UX, content)
- You reviewed and modified the output
- The final product is a combination of AI code + your creative direction
This makes you the author in practice. The code is a tool-assisted work, like using Photoshop to create art — you still own the art.
Will you still own it if you modify and enhance it? Absolutely. Every modification, enhancement, and change you make strengthens your ownership claim. The more you customize and build on top, the more clearly it becomes your original work.
Protection Roadmap — What To Do
Immediate (Before Public Launch)
File trademark for “Auralen”
USPTO, classes 9 (software), 41 (education), 42 (SaaS). File yourself at trademark.gov or use an attorney. LegalZoom trademark package ($599)
Register copyright on assessment questions
Register the 25Q and 111Q question sets as literary works at copyright.gov
Implement bcrypt password hashing
Manual signup passwords are currently stored as plaintext. Must hash before any real users.
Get legal review of Privacy Policy & Terms
Current policies are AI-generated templates. Need attorney review for GDPR, CCPA, COPPA compliance. Try Priori Legal or Termly
Soon (First 30 Days)
Form LLC
Separates personal liability from business. Choose your state, file articles of organization, get EIN. LegalZoom LLC ($0 + state fee) or Incfile (free + state fee)
Trademark “EmojiDex”
Distinctive name for your gamification system. File alongside Auralen at USPTO
File provisional patent (optional)
If your scoring methodology is novel enough, a provisional patent gives 12 months of protection. USPTO Provisional Patent
Get cyber liability insurance
Protects against data breach lawsuits once processing real payments/data. Hiscox or Next Insurance
Ongoing
Document all original work
Keep dated records of your creative decisions, assessment development, methodology notes. Screenshots, Notion docs, commit history.
NDA for future developers/contractors
Anyone who sees your scoring algorithm, question bank, or methodology should sign an NDA.
Monitor trademark infringement
Set up Google Alerts for “Auralen” and “EmojiDex” to catch copycats.
Who You Need To Talk To
IP / Trademark Attorney
Why: File trademarks, review IP portfolio, patent consultation
Where: Local IP attorney, or LegalZoom ($599 trademark package)
When: BEFORE public launch
Tech / Privacy Attorney
Why: Review Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, GDPR/CCPA compliance
Where: Priori Legal, Termly, or local tech law firm
When: BEFORE public launch
Accountant / CPA
Insurance Broker
Why: Cyber liability insurance, general business liability
Where: Hiscox or Next Insurance online
When: Before processing real user data at scale
432Hz Ambient Music Track
⚠️ Current Status: NOT Commercially Licensed
The current ambient track was generated using Suno AI on the free tier. Under Suno’s free tier terms, they retain rights to the generated music and it may only be used non-commercially. This track cannot legally be used in a paid product.
How AI-Generated Music Ownership Works
Suno’s model: Like most AI music generators, Suno splits ownership based on your subscription tier:
✅ Paid Subscriber
You own the output. Full commercial rights. Can use in products, sell, distribute, license.
❌ Free Tier (Current Situation)
Suno retains ownership. You get a limited, non-commercial license. Cannot be used in a product that charges money.
The legal gray area: Even with paid AI music, copyright law hasn’t fully settled whether AI-generated music is copyrightable. The US Copyright Office has ruled that purely AI-generated works cannot be copyrighted. However, if you direct the creation with specific prompts and make creative choices, you may have a stronger claim.
✅ Resolution Plan
Jonathan has a musician contact who will create an original commissioned track using the current Suno MP3 as a style reference. This is the best approach because:
- You will own the music 100% via a work-for-hire or assignment agreement
- The music will be copyrightable (human-created)
- No licensing questions or AI ownership gray areas
- You can register the copyright ($65) for full legal protection
- The existing Suno track serves as a perfect reference for the style, tempo, and feel
Action Items
Commission original 432Hz ambient track
Use current Suno MP3 as style reference. Get a work-for-hire agreement or full rights assignment from the musician. Alternatives: Fiverr ($50-200), SoundBetter
Get signed work-for-hire agreement
The musician must sign a document transferring all rights to you. Template available from any music attorney or online.
Register copyright on the commissioned track
Once you have the original track, register at copyright.gov
Remove Suno track from production
Replace public/auralen-ambient.mp3 with the commissioned track. No code changes needed — just swap the file.
Important: Until the commissioned track is ready, the Suno track can remain on the site while it’s in maintenance/pre-launch mode. It must be replaced before accepting any payments or going fully public. Check Suno’s current terms at suno.com/terms and your account status at suno.com/account.
The Bottom Line
You own Auralen. The brand, the content, the methodology, the questions, the design — all of it is your intellectual property. The code was built as a tool to express your vision, and you own the application.
Modifying and enhancing it strengthens your claim. Every change you make, every feature you add, every piece of content you write makes it more uniquely yours. Building on AI-generated code is no different than building on any other tool — the creative direction and final product are yours.
But ownership without registration is weak. You have automatic copyright protection the moment you create something, but enforcing it without registration is much harder and less profitable. Trademark registration gives you legal teeth. Copyright registration lets you sue for statutory damages instead of just actual damages.
Your biggest risks right now:
- Someone registers “Auralen” as a trademark before you do
- A data breach before implementing proper security (password hashing)
- Operating without an LLC (personal liability for business debts)
- Privacy policy that doesn’t meet legal requirements
Total estimated cost to fully protect yourself: $2,000 - $5,000 (trademarks + LLC + legal review + copyright registration). This is an investment that protects potentially millions in future revenue.
This report was prepared as a general overview of intellectual property considerations.
It is not legal advice. Consult a qualified IP attorney for advice specific to your situation.
© 2026 Auralen — Jonathan Love Pyles