Patent Usage And Maintenance
Your Patent Has Been Granted. Now What?
Understanding the benefits that are available to you once a patent has been granted is essential to maximizing your return on investment. A patent can be used to prevent competitors from copying your invention. It can be licensed or sold. We can help you understand and take full advantage of all of the benefits your patent confers. We have helped hundreds of inventors get the patent approval and patent renewal they need.
Maintaining Your Patent
Obtaining a patent with the federal patent office can be a costly and time-consuming endeavor. It is important that you are able to enjoy the protections it affords for as long as possible. This makes it very important that you do everything necessary to maintain your patent. U.S. patents must be renewed every four years and a fee must be paid to keep the patent active. Patents have a 20-year life span from the original filing date.
Effective Patent Representation Since 1989
Saile Ackerman LLC has helped businesses and individual inventors secure patents on their inventions since 1989. During that time, we have secured thousands of patents for our clients. We bring a combination of experience with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), technical knowledge and a commitment to understanding our clients’ industries. This positions us to offer the highly effective patent representation our clients require.
Frequently Asked Questions About Patent Maintenance
Keeping a granted patent active requires close attention to deadlines. Different types of intellectual property also follow different rules. Those rules can affect your rights and the value of your portfolio. Our lawyer handles this process for clients. Common questions include the following:
When are USPTO patent maintenance fees due?
For most U.S. utility patents, owners must pay maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after the USPTO grants the patent. Each payment window opens six months before the applicable due date. If an owner misses that deadline, the USPTO provides an additional six-month period to submit the fee with a surcharge. Our firm monitors these deadlines and manages the required maintenance payments for clients.
Do design patents and trademarks require maintenance fees?
The USPTO requires maintenance fees for utility patents and certain reissue utility patents. It does not require those fees for design patents or plant patents. Federal trademark registrations follow a different system. Trademark owners must file certain documents after registration to show continued use and later renew the registration. Careful oversight helps you keep track of these different rules across your portfolio.
What happens if a patent maintenance deadline is missed?
If a patent owner misses a maintenance fee due date, the USPTO gives the owner a six-month grace period to pay the fee with a surcharge. If the owner still does not pay by the end of that period, the patent expires because of the unpaid fee. In some cases, the USPTO may restore the patent if the owner meets the rules for an unintentional delay. An attorney can review the facts and determine the proper next step.
Why do small and growing companies need ongoing patent portfolio management?
As your company develops new products, improves existing technology or enters new markets, the value of individual patents may change. Ongoing portfolio management helps you track deadlines and review which patent rights still support your business goals. It also helps connect existing patents with protection for later innovations. This oversight lowers the risk of missed deadlines as your portfolio grows. It also helps keep your patent strategy tied to your long-term business plans.
Patent Approval And Patent Renewal Attorney Serving Poughkeepsie, New York, Nationally And Internationally
For assistance in maintaining and making the most of your patent, turn to Saile Ackerman LLC. Located in the Hudson Valley, we serve clients across the United States. To schedule an initial consultation with our firm, call us at 845-452-5863 or contact us online.