If other businesses want to offer a patented product or integrate a patented component into a product, they generally need to negotiate a licensing agreement with the patent holder. In cases where outside parties infringe on a patent and do not compensate the patent...
Successfully prosecuting a patent often requires a year or more of concerted effort and months of preparation. Business leaders usually outsource this process to specialized legal professionals even if they have in-house counsel that helps manage general legal...
Prosecuting a patent is a complex process that even diligent business leaders cannot manage on their own. When unusual circumstances may affect the patent prosecution process, the need for help becomes even more pronounced. Issues such as disputes about the federal...
Social media has become a powerful tool for businesses and inventors looking to share ideas, connect with audiences and attract investors. But when it comes to protecting intellectual property, posting too much too soon can create serious problems. Officials who...
Coming up with an invention or improving an existing one is an important time in an inventor’s life. Once this is done, some inventors choose to pursue a patent for the invention. This gives them rights to the invention and prevents others from copying it. One of the...
For those who invent things, patents are crucial to preserving the profitability of their ideas and rewarding them for their time, knowledge, skill and ingenuity. Without patents, you might argue that people would be more reluctant to spend time and money developing...
Securing a patent is not a simple process. It usually requires more than a year of hard work and the support of a specialized legal professional. Business owners and even lawyers who have a general practice may not be able to successfully navigate patent prosecution...
Filing a provisional patent application can be an important first step in protecting a new invention or product idea. For small and growing businesses, it offers a relatively low-cost way to establish an early filing date with the United States Patent and Trademark...
When someone holds a patent on a certain product or design, they are the only one who is allowed to use it. Their intellectual property has been protected. Another company can’t begin manufacturing and selling the same product, for example, as it would be a patent...
Filing a patent application is only the first step in protecting a new invention. The next stage involves examination by the patent office, where your application will be reviewed for compliance with the rules and requirements of patent law. Many applications do not...