When someone is not actively working in the field of his or her invention, it’s difficult to know if the invention was previously made by another. But for some reason, no mention of it can be found. A patent search can allow your patent to issue faster because your patent attorney can highlight the differences Read More

You’ve likely heard of utility patents and design patents. The utility patent protects an invention, a machine, a process, a chemical composition, or the like. A design patent protects the ornamental appearance of a thing. That is what it looks like. You may also have heard of a utility model, or, as they call it Read More

You’ve likely heard the term intellectual property or IP, and you might have asked yourself, “what exactly is IP?” Here’s a definition. IP is creative works or ideas that are embodied in a form that can be shared or that enable others to recreate, emulate, or manufacture them. Here they are. Patents, trademarks, copyrights, and Read More

Once you pick your trademark, there’s an association you’re going to have to make. A trademark identifies and distinguishes your goods or your services. And it also shows who’s the source of those goods or services. So you pick your mark, you identify what goods or services you want to be protected. And of course, Read More

The inventor should carefully consider every word of the claims. First, an entire working invention must be recited in the main claim. Second, there must be some wording in which the claim distinguishes it from the prior art. Third, the inventor should consider removing or broadening any wording which is not necessary to overcoming the Read More

A copyright registration is a valuable step for creators and artists. First, it provides legal evidence of your work’s originality and ownership, making it easier to protect your intellectual property. Second, Registration grants you exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and adapt your work, deterring others from using it without permission. Third, it enhances your ability Read More

How long is a patent valid? Utility patents and plant patents have a term for up to 20 years from the date when the patent application was first filed. The term may be a stretch to 21 years if you first file a provisional patent application, followed within one year by the regular nonprovisional patent Read More

A patent claim is usually expressed as a statement of technical facts and legal terms. It defines the boundaries of an invention and lays down what the patent does and doesn’t cover. A claim should not be too broad or too narrow. It should include the minimal set of limitations that differentiate an invention over Read More

Patent claims are an essential part of a patent application. They define the scope of protection conferred by a patent and the subject matter that’s protected by it. In other words, the claims are the legal definition of what the patent covers and what it doesn’t. The purpose of the claims is to provide notice Read More

I’m often asked by my clients “what’s a trademark?” And more specifically, they’re looking at, “how do I get a trademark? What do I need?” A trademark is either a word, a phrase, a logo, a symbol, and ironically, it can be a soundbite or even a color.