PATENTS
Patent Searching
 The
first step in obtaining a patent is to conduct a
thorough search of filed patents and patent
applications to determine whether your invention
is different from existing inventions. We will
conduct the search at the U.S. Patent &
Trademark Office where we will search both
domestic and foreign patent databases using the
Examiner’s Automated Search Tool (EAST). We will
then send you a detailed report of our findings,
which includes copies of relevant patents and/or
patent applications for your review. Once you
receive our search report, you will be given a
complimentary legal consultation with a
Registered Patent Attorney who will discuss your
search results and advise you concerning the
next step in the process: preparing your patent
application.
[Back to top]
The next step is
having a Registered Patent Attorney or Agent
with technical expertise in the area of your
invention prepare your patent application based
on a full disclosure of the invention. The
patent attorney will describe your invention in
legal terms required by the Patent & Trademark
Office with the goal of obtaining the broadest
coverage for your invention. We will then send
you a draft of the application for your review
and signature. Once we receive your signed
patent application, we will file it immediately
with the Patent Office. At that point, you are
“patent pending” and you can market your
invention without jeopardizing your patent
rights.
[Back to top]
Technical Drawings
Drawings are
an integral part of your Patent Application that
graphically illustrate your invention and how it
works. Drawings are required for most types of
inventions and must satisfy Patent Office rules
as to form. Our expert illustrators will prepare
technical drawings of your invention in
accordance with Patent Office requirements,
which you will review for accuracy prior to
filing.
Patent Prosecution
 The
third step involves communication between our
attorneys and the Patent Examiner assigned to
your application. In some cases, we may need to
conduct a face-to-face interview with the Patent
Examiner to address concerns the examiner may
have about your application. You will be
informed of all such developments at each stage
of the patent application process.
If your application for patent is approved by
the Patent Office, a Notice of Allowance will be
issued and your application will be published in
the Official Gazette. If the issue fee is paid
within the time period set by the Patent Office
and there are no third-party objections to the
application, the application will issue as a
Registered Patent.
[Back to top]
TRADEMARKS
Trademark Searching
The first step in
obtaining a trademark is to conduct a thorough
search of all existing trademarks and pending
trademark applications, including Federal, State
and Common Law trademarks. Federal trademarks
are registered with the Trademark Office in
Arlington, Virginia. State filed marks are
registered with a particular state and common
law trademarks are marks that are in use, but
are not registered with the states or federal
government. A thorough search of these marks is
necessary to avoid the possibility of
infringement, or rejection of your mark by the
Trademark Office. Once we have completed our
search, we will send you a detailed search
report explaining our findings and recommending
the appropriate step to take next.
Once you have received our search report, you
will be given a free legal consultation with one
of our Trademark Attorneys who will answer your
questions and advise you whether to take the
next step: preparing and filing your trademark
application.
[Back to top]
Preparing and Filing a
Trademark Application
Step two involves
having an attorney prepare and file your
Trademark Application with the Patent and
Trademark Office in Arlington, Virginia. We will
make sure that your trademark application
satisfies the legal requirements of the
Trademark Office, so that your application has
the best chance of being allowed.
[Back to top]
Trademark Prosecution
Once your
application is filed with the Trademark Office,
a Trademark Examiner is assigned to review your
application and to determine whether to allow
the mark. During this process, we will
correspond with the Trademark Office and address
any concerns the Examiner has regarding your
mark. This may require a face-to-face interview
with the Trademark Examiner. Our office will
inform you of all such developments during the
application process. If your application is
allowed, your trademark will be published in the
Trademark Gazette and if no third-parties oppose
your mark it will be registered with the
Trademark Office. You will then be issued a
Certificate of Registration. At that point, you
can use the ® symbol to indicate that you have a
registered trademark. Until then you may use the
™ symbol to warn others that you are claiming
the mark as your property.
[Back to top]
COPYRIGHTS
Preparing and Filing a
Copyright Application
The only step
involved in registering a copyright is to file a
copyright application and a copy of your original
creative work with the Library of Congress. Once
your application is filed, it takes approximately
six months for the Copyright Office to issue your
registration.
[Back to top]
LICENSING
Licensing Agreements
To profit from
your patent, trademark, or copyright you should
consider licensing the rights to make, use or sell
your intellectual property. We can prepare licensing
agreements that are written to suit your particular
needs, while securing you the highest royalties.
[Back to top]
|
US & International
Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights.
