How to Obtain a Patent
The monopoly in a novel invention conveyed to the owner a patent is granted in exchange for inventors publicly disclosing their invention in a patent application, which the government soon publishes for all to see. Thus, the first step in obtaining a patent on an invention is to prepare and file a patent application. Inventors file a patent application with [...]
WHAT IS A TRADEMARK?
Trademarks are very valuable forms of intellectual property, but they differ significantly from patents and copyrights, which provide legal protections for intellectual creations, namely inventions and works of authorship. Instead, trademarks are premised on protecting consumers and purchasers of products and services from being misled regarding the source of those products and services. A trademark is a company’s representative [...]
How To Recognize Patentable Inventions
Many engineers and scientists fail to appreciate when they have conceived of a patentable invention, perhaps presuming that if they came up with the idea, someone else must have done so already. Many believe that patents are reserved for breakthrough inventions. Also, some believe that an invention cannot be a combination of things that are already well known. As [...]
What Can Be Patented?
Patents can be very important forms of intellectual property to startup companies, as well as large corporations. However, patents are not perfect for many forms of intellectual property. Not every invention is eligible for patenting, and not every patentable invention is worth the cost to obtain or enforce a patent. Thus, it is important for inventors and entrepreneurs to understand [...]
Types of Intellectual Property
The term “Intellectual Property” generally refers to the value created in human inventions and mental efforts, as opposed to value created through manual labor and following the instructions of others. Through its legal protections, intellectual property can be treated much like physical property, allowing individuals and companies to buy, sell and license their intellectual property to others. The metes and [...]
Intellectual Property Fuels The Modern Economy
___It is a well-worn phrase to say that we live and work in the information age. To a large extent, this means that today the most valuable assets of businesses and the economic fuel driving the economy is information. But who owns the information? This question is at the heart of many political and societal debates over privacy rights, [...]