Filter by
Innovation is the lifeblood of progress. From groundbreaking technologies to revolutionary products, the quest for innovation has shaped our world in profound ways. But behind every groundbreaking invention lies a crucial component that often goes unnoticed: the patent. Patents serve as the cornerstone of innovation, offering inventors exclusive rights to their creations for a limited…
At the heart of any patent is the claims, the quirky, numbered paragraphs at the end of the patent document. The claims describe in words where the boundary around your invention lies, and are crucial to the scope and value of your patent right. Let’s take a closer look at these claims, their purpose. An…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office serves a critical function in the global economy by providing incentives for innovation and supporting new technologies. It is also an absolute unit, with an estimated budget of $4.3B for the coming year and a staff of more than 13,452 employees.[FN1] With that budget and workforce, the USPTO…
BY DAVID A. BOAG | BOAG LAW, PLLC So, you’re ready to patent your invention. You already know you must act quickly to hold onto your rights. But then what? This guide will help you maximize your chances of filing a useful, grantable patent application with the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) while saving as…
BY DAVID A. BOAG | BOAG LAW, PLLC Trademark scams have been around for years. The classic scam goes like this: A third-party mines the public trademark application database and contacts scores of trademark applicants directly, requesting payment for some fee or service that isn’t actually necessary. This scam is so widespread that the USPTO has…
BY DAVID A. BOAG | BOAG LAW, PLLC Securing a patent for your new idea can be a long game. Applicants can expect to wait 20 months or longer before an examiner reviews the application. The reason is simply one of numbers. A staff of about 8,176 examiners are tasked with examining a backlog running 765,000…
BY DAVID A. BOAG | BOAG LAW, PLLC On November 23, the curtain went down on TESS, the USPTO’s trademark search system that had served trademark searchers since roughly 2000. In its place comes a supercharged replacement. This article is a crash course in the USPTO’s new replacement to TESS (official name to be determined so…
Social media is literally everywhere. Nearly 5B global users are generating and digesting billions of units of audio, video, media, graphics, mashups, memes, and everything in between. Do these creations follow the same rules as other types of works? In many cases, the answer is yes. Creators of original social media are entitled to the…
Innovation and intellectual property are constantly advancing. Patents allow creators to protect these innovative ideas. If you have a business or enterprise that needs to know more about a specific product or service, you will want to know how to read a patent. At first glance, all this information may seem like a confusing set…
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) transactions are a cornerstone of the business landscape. While these transactions boost growth, they can come with a range of complexities, intellectual property being a big one. A little due diligence goes a long way here. Find out more about this important process. Intellectual Property in M&A Intellectual property represents a…
Collaborations between writers, artists, singers, influencers, and other creatives have become more prevalent in the internet age. These professionals frequently collaborate on projects to share ideas and add to a finished result. These partnerships pose some issues regarding copyright ownership. Learn how intellectual property law could protect you if you are working on a collaborative…
Not all patents are created equal. Utility, design, and plant patents plus the provisional application (don’t call it a provisional patent) are the 3.5 types available to inventors. Read on for details. Utility Patents A utility patent protects the structure, function, or composition of an invention and is the most common type of patent in…
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
