Posts Archive
Top 10 Patents for 2014
Today, we’re picking the best inventions for which corporations from the Companies We Follow series have actually earned patent rights from the U.S. Patent and …
How Long Does a Patent Last?
Generally speaking, utility and plant patent applications filed on or after June 8, 1995, have a term that begins on the date the patent issues and ends on the …
What is a patent and where do patent rights come from?
A patent is a proprietary right granted by the Federal government pursuant to laws passed by Congress. The Congressional power to authorize patents is found in Article …
The Benefits of a Provisional Patent Application
There is a great misunderstanding among many inventors and entrepreneurs regarding what many simply refer to as a provisional patent. The first thing that needs to be …
Patenting Board Games 101
In my experience one of the things that inventors of board games frequently forget is the inclusion of alternative methods of play. Don't just focus on the …
Drafting Patent Applications: Writing Method Claims
Method or process claims are relatively easy to write once you know what the core invention is and what is necessary to be included in the claim …
Funding Your Invention: Get Started with Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding addresses the two biggest challenges many inventors have. “What is the market for my product?” and “How do I get initial funds to produce it?” Conventional …
An Overview of the U.S. Patent Process
The first time you will substantively hear from the examiner is when the examiner issues what is referred to as a First Office Action on the Merits (…
Does My Degree Qualify Me to Take the Patent Bar?
Some of the most popular pages month after month on IPWatchdog.com are our Patent Bar information pages, and given that I teach for the PLI Patent …
What is a Trade Secret?
A trade secret is defined as any valuable business information that is not generally known and is subject to reasonable efforts to preserve confidentiality. Generally speaking, a …
Alternate Approaches to the Valuation of Intellectual Property
Techniques for valuing intellectual property continue to develop, especially as access to information becomes easier and more efficient. The practice of valuing intellectual property has only been …
Federal Circuit Affirms TTAB Refusal to Register ‘CHURRASCOS’
In a May 13, 2016 decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) decision upholding an Examiner’s denial of registration based on a finding …
How Long Does a Copyright Last?
Answering the question about how long a copyright lasts, or whether a particular copyrighted work is in the public domain and can be readily used without the …
A beginner’s guide to patents and the patent process
Whether you are an independent inventor, an fledgling entrepreneur or a seasoned inventor who is going out on your own for the first time, the best thing …
Becoming Patent Bar Eligible: What Courses are Acceptable?
When determining whether to accept a particular course one particularly important consideration is whether the course has been accepted for college-level credit for a Category A degree …
