Patents
What is a Patent?
A patent is a grant of property rights to the inventor of a new and useful invention. This patent is issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and has a term of 20 years from the date the application for the patent was filed.
There are three types of patents. To determine which type is right for you, you must first look at what you are seeking protection for.
Utility Patents
A utility patent is the most common type of patent sought. Utility patents are granted to anyone who invents or discovers a new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter. Utility patents may also be sought for any non-obvious improvements to any of these things.
Design Patents
Design patents are granted to anyone who creates a new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. A design patent cannot be granted for something functional – that is reserved for a utility patent. Design patents are similar to trademarks, allowing you to protect a distinguishing feature of your products.
Plant Patents
Plant patents are give to anyone who creates and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
What rights does a patent give you?
Unlike a copyright, which can only protect the expression of an idea and not the idea itself, a patent gives a strong degree of protection for the actual invention. A patent holder has the right to stop others from making, using, importing, selling or offering for sale the patented invention.
How can we help you
Patent Applications
We work with inventors to find the heart of their inventions – the core innovative concepts embodied within their creations. Once we know these central ideas, we work together to explore what possible applications there are for their ideas.
In the road to obtaining patent protection, we suggest conducting a prior art search. During this search, we look to previously published patents, patent applications and non-patent literature. This shows what technologies already exist that might stop a patent from issuing. If nothing is found that would prevent you from obtaining a patent, we begin writing.
We draft patent applications to obtain the patent protection you need. We are able to help you through the application process, responding to office actions from the USPTO and ensuring you get the protection you deserve.
Clearance to Operate
We do a detailed analysis on the state of the art, allowing you to know whether your technology would infringe on anybody else’s patent. Our report includes any patents found, so you will know if your technology is free of limitations.
