There are various types of patents that inventors should be aware: UTILITY PATENTS There are two types of utility and plant patent applications: provisional and nonprovisional. A provisional application is a quick and inexpensive way for inventors to establish a U.S. filing date for their invention, which can be claimed in a later-filed nonprovisional application….
What is Fair use of a Copyright? Fair use is a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances. Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news…
Inventor NIELS ODEGAARD AND GOTFRED KUHNLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS invented the COMBINED FOLDING BED AND CABINET-FRONT. The application was filed on September 15,1892. serial No. 445,938. (No model.) This invention relates to improvements in folding-beds and has for its object to provide a bed of this character having a cabinet or dressing-case front, which is…
What Should You Trademark? Often startups have no idea what should be protected by trademark registration, since it extends far beyond just your company name. Here are a few of the items that you should consider seeking trademark protection for your startup. Company Name First, a small business should always protect its company name. Your…
A patent for an invention is a grant of property rights by the U.S. Government through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent grant excludes others from making, using, or selling the invention in the United States. A utility or plant patent in force on June 8, 1995, is subject to either the 17…
Your patent attorney will keep you updated on the status of your patent application. If you are not assigned to an attorney, the following information might be helpful. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is pleased to present PAIR – Patent Application Information Retrieval System. PAIR has a private site that provides a USPTO/Internet…
Applications for trademarks used on regulated products (e.g. cannabis, drug paraphernalia, ivory, whalebone) and activities (e.g. gambling and wagering, retail stores featuring controlled substances) are subject to additional review. Please call us for additional information. Source: USPTO.GOV
What can be patented – utility patents are provided for a new, nonobvious and useful: Process Machine Article of manufacture Composition of matter Improvement of any of the above Note: In addition to utility patents, encompassing one of the categories above, patent protection is available for (1) ornamental design of an article of manufacture or…
Common mistakes to avoid: Failure to update Ownership information: Section 8 and Section 9 documents must be filed by the current owner. If the documents are not filed by the proper owner, the documents may be refused and the registration could be canceled. Ensure all information in filing is accurate: If goods or services currently…
A joint inventor is an individual who has not only made a significant contribution to the conception of the invention, but also participated in a “collaboration or concerted effort” towards the invention. If the inventor and another individual contributed to the invention as claimed, each party is a joint inventor. Each party is considered to have shared…
