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Patent Process

Patent Process

Patent vs Copyright

Patents and copyright are two different types of intellectual property law that protect your property rights. Patents and copyrights give the holder different types of rights that they can assert over others. Which one is best for your intellectual property will depend on what you are seeking to protect.  Patents vs. Copyright In general, patents provide legal protections for inventions which contain new ideas so that the holder can keep others from making commercial use of the idea without the…
November 30, 2020
Patent Process

Patent vs Trademark

Patents and trademarks are different types of intellectual property rights that provide legal protection for your idea. Patents and trademarks protect different subject matter and provide the holder different types of legal rights and protections that can be asserted over others.  Patent vs. Trademark When it comes to a patent vs. trademark, which one is best for your intellectual property will depend on a variety of factors.  Patent Rights Under common law, a patent is a type of property right.…
November 30, 2020
Patent Process

How Long Does it Take to Get a Patent?

Wondering how long does it take to actually get a patent? The truth is, how long it takes to get a patent will depend on a number of factors.  Some of these factors are in your control, while others are not.  How Long Does it Take to Get a Patent? The United States Patent and Trademark Office often can take a long time to review and ultimately approve a patent application. Even before you get to the government agency, however,…
November 30, 2020
Patent Process

How Much Does it Cost to Get a Patent?

Applying for a patent is an exciting and complicated process, and it can also be a costly process. How much does it actually cost to get a patent? The cost to get a patent will depend on a variety of factors. How Much Does it Cost to Get a Patent? In general terms, how much it costs to get a patent will often depend on the complexity of your invention, the number of claims you are seeking, the size of…
November 30, 2020
Patent Process

How Do I Do a Patent Search?

Patent searches are a necessary part of the patent application process that helps ensure your invention is truly original. The United States Patent and Trademark Office will reject any patent application looking to get a patent for an invention that already exists.  How Do I Patent a Search? Conducting patent searches can be time-consuming and confusing, so we have a few tips and tricks to help you through this process.  What Are Patent Searches? Patent searches are searches conducted within…
November 27, 2020
Patent Process

Can You Patent Software?

Developing computer software can be a difficult, time consuming, and lengthy process. After this long road, people often want to protect their software with a patent. But the question arises: can you patent software? Can You Patent Software? The answer to the question of software’s patentability is the frustrating “it depends.” Software algorithms on their own cannot be patented, but the process underlying the software often can be patented.  Patents Rights A U.S. patent can be highly covetable as it…
November 2, 2020
Patent Process

How is Patent Infringement Determined?

Owning a U.S. patent gives you important rights over your product, technology, or a big idea — we’ll call this your invention. Patent infringement occurs when some individual or entity infringes on your intellectual property rights over your invention. That is when someone enters the ‘prohibited territory’ defined by your patent. How is Patent Infringement Determined? How patent infringement is determined can be a complicated process and can involve a lengthy legal proceeding. This article will provide an overview of…
November 2, 2020
Patent Process

Should I Assign My Patent to My Company?

Whether you already own a patent or are pursuing a patent for your big idea, one important consideration is whether to own the patent rights individually, to assign the patent rights to your company, or to create a company and then assign your patent rights to this newly formed company.  Should I Assign My Patent to My Company? Which option is best for yourself as the inventor and your patent will depend on the specific circumstances related to your patent.…
October 21, 2020
Patent Process

How to Display Patent Pending on a Website

Being able to claim “patent pending status” can be an important marking for your product or technology to display your intellectual property rights. There are some specific marking rules that you will need to follow, however, to claim this patent pending verbiage for your invention. In general, you must make a good faith effort that your invention has proper markings and done in a consistent manner.   How to Display Patent Pending on a Website It is important for you to…
October 21, 2020
Patent Process

What is a Patent Citation?

Patent citations can be important as you prepare patent applications to protect your intellectual property or if you are conducting research and want to glean information from patents.  What is a Patent Citation? A patent citation is any document cited by a patent applicant, patent examiner, or third party that relates to the content of a patent application. Truly any publicly available document can form the basis of a patent citation. Here are some typical types of patent citations: Existing…
October 21, 2020