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Types of Patent Applications: Utility Patent Applications
When most people talk about patents, the first type that probably comes to mind is a utility patent. A utility patent is granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful...
read moreTrademark Modernization Act
In late 2020, the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA) was signed and included, among other things, two new and notable procedures. The two new procedures, expungement and reexamination, are aimed at reducing the number of trademarks which have been registered but have...
read moreTypes of Patent Applications: Design Applications
Design patents are granted to anyone who has invented any new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. These patents apply only to the appearance of an article and do not cover an article’s structural or utilitarian features. The subject...
read moreTypes of Patent Applications: Provisional Applications
For many inventors, starting with a provisional application is the first step in obtaining patent rights. A provisional application allows an inventor to establish an early effective filing date at a low cost. It also allows the inventor to use the term “Patent...
read moreTypes of Patent Applications: Plant Patent Applications
Under 35 U.S.C. § 161, a Plant Patent may be granted to “whoever invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant, including cultivated sports, mutants, hybrids, and newly found seedlings, other than a tuber propagated plant or a...
read morePatent Challenge Series: Inter Partes Review
Another mechanism for challenging an issued patent is inter partes review. Inter partes review essentially picks up where post grant review ends. Inter partes reviews can only be filed after the later of either nine months after the granting of the patent or the...
read morePatent Challenge Series: Post Grant Review
Unlike a Third-Party Pre-Issuance Submission, a Post Grant Review (PGR) may be instituted within a nine-month window after a patent is granted. A PGR is conducted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and can be requested based on any ground related to patent...
read morePatent Challenge Series: Third-Party Pre-Issuance Submissions
As a competitor, it can be disheartening to come across a patent or patent application that could impact your intellectual property rights. One way to prevent conflict with a potentially troublesome patent application is to file a third-party pre-issuance...
read moreThe Life Process of a Patent
When filing for a patent it is important for inventors to understand the process so as to know what to expect upon filing. While the road to acceptance can take some time, obtaining a patent is the first step towards protecting and monetizing all the hard work put...
read moreWhat is a Copyright?
A copyright is a form of protection granted for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. These types of works include literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. Examples of copyrightable works are songs, movies, computer software,...
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