This is the third in a series of posts focused on some of the basic tenets of intellectual property law. Articles one and two focused on some fundamental principles of patent law. A trademark is a source indicator of goods or...
This is the second in a series of posts on the basics of patents. The first post discussed the scope of a patent and how to obtain one. This post will focus on the benefits of a patent and how you can enforce one. Now that you have a patent, what can...
This is the first in a series of basic info posts on the basics of intellectual property law. In particular, I’d like to focus on what is a patent and what kind of protection does it provide if you are able to obtain a granted patent. To start, there are 3 types...
With the passage of the American Invents Act, the U.S. Patent System has moved from a first to invent system to a first inventor to file system. While the new law awards the patent to the first inventor, it also prevents others from obtaining an invention if you...
This week I am highlighting a recent article written by Mark Schultz and Adam Mossoff on the connection between intellectual property rights and economic prosperity. In sum, the article makes an excellent connection between the strength of a country’s IP system to...
I had lunch with a colleague who is an IP attorney and an engineer. He was telling me about his participation in a start up weekend and all of the challenges and fun that he had. In hearing this, we discussed, as patent attorneys do, the consequences of...
I am taking a break this week in my usual focus on intellectual property law, to give a shout out to the NCLEAP program here in North Carolina. I preface this by disclosing that I am an NCLEAP volunteer and sit on their steering committee. NCLEAP (North Carolina...
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) are co-hosting a three part webinar series to help business owners understand the intellectual property process. The series starts today at noon. This webinar...
Many of my clients come in thinking that as long as they have a corporate name, they are free to use that name for advertising and marketing purposes. Sadly, they are mistaken. The corporate name granted by the Secretary of State’s office is only given for use...
The US Patent Office is expanding its Patent Examiner Technical Training Program. The Patent Office is seeking voluntary assistance from technologists, scientists, engineers, and other experts from industry and academia to participate as guest lecturers and provide...
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is hosting its 16th Annual Independent Inventor Conference on August 15-16, 2014 at its offices in Arlington Virginia. The conference will enable independent inventors and small business owners to learn about the patent...
A client of mine came to me recently lamenting the fact that someone in her industry was using an almost identical business name and service mark. She was given to understand that because the name is a family name, she was powerless to do anything about...
