A patent may be obtained for any new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. Such a patent is a "utility" patent because of the requirement that the invention be useful. A "design" patent may be obtained for any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. There is no requirement that a design be useful. A patent gives the owner a right to exclude others from making, selling or using the invention. In general, must be obtained individually in each country where protection is wanted from that country's patent office. In some instances, it is possible to make a single application for a block of countries, e.g., under the European Patent Convention.
We assist clients in acquiring and maintaining patents in the U.S. and throughout the world by:
- Conducting patent searches and rendering patentability opinions.
- Preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications (utility and design) before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including appeals to the Board of Interferences and Patent Appeals.
- Filing Patent Cooperation Treaty applications.
- Obtaining foreign patents through an established network of patent law agents and firms worldwide.
- Providing maintenance fee reminders such that U.S. and foreign patents do not lapse unintentionally.
- Filing and prosecuting petitions such as for:
- Reinstatement of lapsed patents for non-payment of maintenance fees;
- Patent term extension for regulatory delay; and,
- Patent reexamination.
Trademarks and Service MarksCopyrights Licensing/Technology Business Litigation Support/Avoidance