Poughkeepsie Intellectual Property Law

You have a new idea / invention that you want to bring to market. You believe your invention will change the world, aid others in some way or perhaps simply provide entertainment and pleasure. It's likely you want to protect it.

If you're able to obtain a patent, you will own the right to prevent others from making, using or selling your invention. Although it's possible to file a patent application without using an attorney, the lengthy, confusing aspects of the patent process may make you wish you had. Between knowledge, expertise and commitment, a patent attorney provides the reliable help you need to securely maximize the rights to your invention. 

As an entrepreneur, intellectual property of some kind, and protecting it, is likely a critical aspect of your business plan. Whether it's a trademark that builds your brand, copyrights that protect your creative works, or a patent for your invention, you have to bring something unique to the market and try to legally protect it.

A patent can be an extremely valuable asset for protecting an invention.

A patent gives the owner the right to exclude others from making, using or selling the described invention, for up to 20 years. The essence of the 'deal' between the government and an inventor is a 20-year monopoly, in exchange for public disclosure of the invention.

The public disclosure allows others to read about the idea and then make improvements (possibly getting their own patents) - with the overall goal being to encourage innovation and progress.

With one exception, all patent applications are disclosed to the public 18 months after the earliest filing date. 

If you have an idea which you think is patentable, you may decide you want to move forward and try to obtain patent protection. Before you can proceed with protecting your invention, however, it's important that you understand what is known as "prior art."

That term is used to describe all publicly available information, anywhere in the world, that in some way relates to your invention. You cannot receive a patent unless your invention is new, as compared to what is taught in the prior art. 

When applicants are trying to patent their invention they often get the feeling that their patent examiner is an adversary. While it can seem like a patent examiner is pitted against you, he or she functions primarily as a gatekeeper. A patent examiner simply has a job to do.