Patents

Patents are rights to certain intellectual properties. Patents ensure that no one besides their owners can produce, use or sell the patented items. Patentees are responsible for maintaining their…

The patented Ultramet capacitor is a universal replacement run capacitor manufactured by AmRad Engineering, a subsidiary of American Radionic Corporation. This oil-filled, motor capacitor, which…

Breaking in a pair of squeaky patent heels is essential for a top-notch professional appearance. Squeaky shoes cause unwanted distractions in professional atmospheres; they also are indicative of…

Copyright law can be dense and difficult to understand. There are many rules and restrictions that average citizens may not understand. Common Licensing is a movement for a less restrictive copyright…

Patent infringement cases can be expensive to litigate, and very expensive to lose. They can also cast a wide net. For example, the 2010 infringement suit brought by Canon against Ninestar for…

The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act, commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, was enacted in 1984 as Public Law 98-417. The common name comes from the names of the act's two…

The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an advisory organization that collects information and presents it to the public for insurance companies to use in order to determine rates…

All patent activities in the U.S. are governed by laws embodied in USC 35. Additional information about how these activities should be conducted is found in Title 37 of Code of Federal Regulations,…

Patents protect intellectual property rights, and patent ideas must be a new and original invention or discovery. The history of patent protection dates to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S.…

If you're accused of infringing someone's patent -- the legal right to a particular invention -- it could cost you. In 2010, a court hit Microsoft with a $290 million patent-infringement judgment, a…

Utility patents are classified as any patent that: has a useful purpose, is a machine, composition of matter or is an article of manufacture. Patents protect the intellectual property of an inventor…

Patents, trademarks and copyrights all provide intellectual property protection for ideas and inventions. Having a patent or trademark on your product is an asset that gives you the power to market…

Patents offer protection of a useful and innovative product or process. Filing a patent grants you exclusive rights over the product in exchange for publicizing your discovery. During the duration of…

If you have an idea for the perfect invention, it may be worth your while to protect it with a patent. A patent provides an inventor the exclusive right to sell or manufacture an idea or invention.…

A patent is an intellectual property right granted by the U.S. government. Under 35 U.S. Code 154, inventors who have a valid patent may "exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or…

If you are seeking to have your intellectual property protected in the United States and Europe, it is vital to know there are marked differences between the two patent systems. Depending on the type…

A patent protects your idea from being stolen by somebody else, who could then claim it as their own. Once the United States Patent and Trademark Patent Office (USPTO) issues you a patent, you have a…

An understanding of monopolies and oligopolies requires a basic understanding of the fundamentals of economy and economics. An economy refers to activities related to the production and distribution…

There's a software application for just about everything. Most software users don't even think about legal issues as they use software to access the Internet, communicate with friends, sell products,…

When an invention or idea is patented, it is given number that differentiates it from any similar items and allows a comprehensive list of patents to be kept. The United States Patent and Trademark…

Life would be easy if you could board Washington, D.C.'s Metro Blue Line, get off at the Pentagon and pitch your patent to members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but government doesn't work that way.…

A music license deal allows the creator of a musical composition and/or recording to permit another entity to use the music for a variety of purposes. All musical license deals are negotiable though…

Microsurgery is considered a developing subset of plastic surgery. It employs the use of devices to perform more complex reconstructive surgeries. Microsurgery procedures involve the transfer of…

Patent Assistance Worldwide is a company designed to help people who want to create new products obtain a patent in countries that require patent protection for new ideas or inventions. A patent is…

If you have a patent for a game you have certified your ownership of that invention, even if it is a virtual invention. You can sell the patent for the game immediately, but you will probably generate…

Just like the owner of a patent, a patent applicant can also transfer rights to an invention through a license. A license of a pending patent application gives the licensee rights to use the invention…

Intellectual property rights are a key element to a free market system dependent on innovation and development. As technological advances grow more and more complex in science, medicine,…

A clinical investigation is a systematic study of a treatment for a condition. It usually involves testing the effects of a certain pharmaceutical drug on human patients. An investigator delegates…

Pharmaceutical licensing agreements are two-party contracts between a drug company and a pharmaceutical laboratory, or lab inventor. The laboratory develops and patents drugs, and grants a license in…

A patent is a government grant that gives an inventor a monopoly on the patented technology. For 20 years after the inventor applies for her patent, no one else can make, use, sell, offer for sale or…

Patents protect your products and ideas from intellectual property theft. When patent infringement occurs, you are entitled to past patent damage compensation. If a court or jury determines that…

A patent is granted to an inventor to have the sole right to sell, use and make his invention for a specific period of time. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is responsible for approving patent…

The patent examination process can take years, but protecting your ideas can be a sound investment and a source of pride. Understanding the patent examination eases an already difficult process and…

Analysis encompasses a broad range of techniques and disciplines, from complicated technology found in chemistry and physics laboratories to the methodologies of finance and political analysis. No…

Shares in a company are considered the property of the owner, which gives him the right to transfer them by selling, assigning or giving them to others. Upon transferring stocks, an agreement is…

A patent is a way of legally protecting your intellectual property. Applying for a patent can be a laborious process, given that the patent office must determine that no similar product is already in…

Provisional patents remain valid for only a year, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. After acquiring your provisional patent, you will have to move quickly to secure your patent, which…

An Australian patent is a legal protection bestowed upon a device, method or thing that is useful and inventive. A patent gives the owner the ability exclusively to market and sell the patented thing.…

Intellectual property is a foundation of the American economy and the country's long history of technological advancements. Patents play a critical part in safeguarding inventors' ideas and allowing…

A monopoly is more than just a board game with a top hat and a race car. In the real world, a monopoly is an enterprise that is the only seller of a good or service. If there is only one person or…

If a person dies while owning patent rights, those rights usually become part of the deceased's estate. However, a number of factors must be taken into account.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, is responsible for processing patent applications in the United States. Inventors apply for one of three types of patents: design patents, plant patents…

You have an amazing, original recipe for chicken wings. You're so excited by your creation that you want to share it with the world while maintaining control of its exposure. Seek a patent. A patent…

Correcting inventorship on an issued patent can be done in one of two ways: a request to correct inventorship or a reissue of the patent. When inventorship is the only information being changed, and…

The United States Patent and Trademarks Office (USPTO), a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, grants patents and registers trademarks. As a prerequisite to becoming a registered…

If a company is looking to change an old plant or build anew, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's New Source Review (NSR) program will issue a permit. The construction permit requires the…

In the United States, innovators can file to patent their inventions. These patents are coveted documents since they guarantee the person or organization to which they are awarded exclusive rights to…

Patents are deeds to the claimed subject matter -- you get a legal monopoly to what is written in the claims section once it's approved and published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.…

Inventing a product may take great skill and a tremendous commitment, but not every inventor knows the details of intellectual property law that govern their creation. There are a number of scams…

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office was established by the federal government for the purpose of regulating legal ownership of inventions. The patent holder of an invention retains complete control…

Applying for a patent is an important mechanism for protecting your original intellectual property. Child patents offer an extension on the first patent application, hopefully providing more thorough…

Technological knowledge has become a valuable asset for the business and academic worlds. Patents and technology transfer are important tools for protecting and sharing this asset.

A patent gives exclusive rights to make and sell an invention for up to 20 years. With a patent you hold legal control over who can and can not sell your invention, but getting one can be a lengthy…

Inventors intending to patent a creation must follow several steps to acquire patent protection. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, the administering body for intellectual property…

Letters patent are legal documents wherein the government grants a right or a title to a private citizen. This includes patents for an inventions, copyrights for authors or when ownership of land…

Understanding patent law can make the difference between a great idea and your next paycheck. Depending on your situation, knowledge of how to appeal a letters patent rejection could be just as…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was started by Benjamin Franklin to protect inventors. If an invention or proposed invention is patented, the inventor can stop anyone else from…

Legal and equitable title owners to a patent are both individuals who have an arguable interest in the patent. Although the patent is legally held in one person or entity's name, an equitable owner…

The European Patent Office (EPO) is the executive arm of the European Patent Organisation. It administers patent law for its European member nations.

A patent is an intellectual property right granted by the U.S. government in exchange for the public disclosure of the invention. The patent owner has the exclusive right to exclude others from using…

Patent violation describes the act of a person or a company who uses, sells or manufactures a product based on someone else's patented idea without a prior licensing agreement with the patent owner,…

Patents protect creators from others using or selling their inventions without the inventor's permission. Standards have been set for proper patent marking and penalties have been established for…

A patent is a form of intellectual property that grants to a patentee an exclusive right to use and market an invention or process. The doctrine of patent exhaustion stipulates that once an invention…

No true universal patent system exists, but a large number of nations are members of the World Intellectual Property Organization. WIPO administers standards and processes for international patent…

Patent rights provide protection to creators of unique inventions. To determine the uniqueness of an invention, the American patent system has moved to a first-inventor-to-file approach with the…

A patent is a legal protection placed on an invention that allows the inventor to control how the invention is used in the future. Patents act as an incentive for inventors to create innovations that…

A patent document consists of three parts. The first, the background, gives a very cursory explanation of the prior art. The second part, the specification, describes how the invention can be…

Patent terms were originally set in Title 35 of the United States Code. Subsequent legislation has been passed to allow the adjustment of patent terms to afford full protection to inventors.

Patents protect inventions and discoveries. Recordings on a CD are not covered by patent law. Authors of original works such as songs, music, books and plays may obtain copyrights through the U.S.…

As described in the Constitution of the United States, patent rights work by "securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." The…

The pharmaceutical industry develops, markets and sells licensed medications. There are a number of laws to govern how pharmaceutical products are tested, patented and marketed. The Federal Food Drug…

A patent is a form of intellectual property right. The owner of a patent has the right to exclude others from using, making or selling the invention. It is a right granted by the U.S. Patent and…

Jordanian patent law protects inventions, which are defined by Article 2 to be "Any innovative idea, in any of the fields of technology, which relates to a product or a manufacturing process or both…

A patent gives an inventor the right to prevent anyone from unauthorized selling, marketing or otherwise using his invention or idea for a period of time. This allows the inventor to create, improve…

Software patents are allowed according to U.S. law, but they have to fulfill certain requirements. One of these requirements is the process or object being patented has to be novel. What this means in…

If you have an idea for an invention that you want to market, you need to apply for a patent that prevents others from exploiting that idea. To get a patent approved, your invention needs to pass…

Petty patents, also known as utility models, protect certain new inventions from competition for a limited period of time. While the details of the definition and the requirements for obtaining a…

Panama is a member of the Paris Convention on Patents, which means the country follows the same rules as most other countries when it comes to patents. Patents in Panama are granted by the…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is the federal agency responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks. Title 35 of the U.S. Code, a collection of the general and permanent…

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a patent allows its holder the right to exclude other companies or manufacturers from making, selling, using or importing the patented…

Prior to marketing, new drugs, biological products and medical devices are evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Clinical studies are presented to determine if the applications meet the FDA…

Determining the goodwill value of a business is never a clear issue. Goodwill refers to the intangible value the business has created above the value of its tangible assets such as manufacturing…

Patents grant inventors property rights over their inventions. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants patents to provide the person who files the patent the exclusive right to…

Companies and inventors must constantly be diligent in order to ensure that they are not violating patent laws. A patent map is therefore used in order to give innovators a sense of how close their…

Patent claims are used to clearly state the legal scope of a patent and notify the public of what the patent protects. An important part of examining patent applications or possible infringement cases…

U.S. patents are classified as public domain government information. Therefore, anyone can access someone else's patent information online. Viewing another person's patent information can provide you…

Patents give inventors exclusive rights to the commercial exploitation of their creation. Generally, patents are valid only for a specified amount of time.

United States patent law covers only the intellectual property of inventors and their industrial innovations, so art is not patentable. That doesn't mean artists can't protect their intellectual…

When you feel that you cannot make money on your own using your ideas, you can submit your ideas to the right partners or clients and create a win-win situation for both. There are several ways to…

The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), administered under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), works to ensure that drugs made available to the public are safe and effective.…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) generally grants three types of patents: a design patent (ornamental in nature); plant patent (biological plant asexually reproduced); or a…

European Union member countries--including Ireland, Great Britain and France--plus countries outside the European Union, such as Norway, are members of the European Patent Organization (EPO), and…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues patents to protect inventions from being replicated by others for profit. Patents are classified as utility, plant, or design patents, and…

A patent is a legal right granted to you by the U.S. government via the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which governs the ownership of an invention or product design. When you own a patent on an…

Intellectual property, including patents for inventions and patents involving processes, is protected in Europe by the European Patent Convention, or EPC. The convention is known as the European…

New and unique inventions should be registered as patents in India if an inventor wants to obtain exclusive rights to his idea. Similar to the process in the United States, inventors can apply for a…

Patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, to provide inventors with protection from others copying, using or selling their works. When questions arise about the…

Innovation was not always welcomed in Japan. The "shinki gohatto" law passed in 1721 prohibited commoners from inventing or improving upon existing items. As Japan has developed into one of the most…

Inventors understand that obtaining a patent is not an easy process. Lengthy and very detailed descriptions must be written out, along with any drawings that may be needed. Furthermore, what category…

Filing for a patent in the United States is a long, complicated and expensive process that generally involves hiring patent professionals to help prepare and submit an application. However, since 1995…

Patent attorneys specialize in either patent prosecution or patent litigation. Patent prosecution involves matters related to applying for patent. Patent litigation involves legal actions about a…

There are several contexts in which the issue of valuing a patent can become urgent. For example, a potential licensee must determine the royalty rate it is willing to pay for the right to use a…

An invention can make an individual wealthy, but inventors must protect their inventions from theft. A patent is a legal document issued by the federal government that grants the rights to an idea to…

Patents are legal documents that assign ownership to an invention or device and allow the acknowledged inventor to benefit from the invention. The patent process can appear daunting, detailed and…

The European Patent Office maintains a database with more than 70 million patent documents, all of which can be searched on line. Searching is straightforward and can be carried out in English or in…

A patent infringement lawsuit is a civil proceeding, which must be filed within the federal courts. The procedures are, for the most part, the same as those involved for other federal civil lawsuits.…

A patent refers to a type of intellectual property law, enshrined in the U.S. Patent Act, that allows an inventor exclusive rights to sell an innovation for a certain amount of time. During this time,…

Patents give inventors the ability to make a profit from their inventions by protecting the inventor's rights of usage and commercial application. By acquiring a patent for a unique invention, the…

International recognition of patent rights was not formalized until the Strasbourg Agreement, signed in 1971 in Strasbourg, France. The purpose of the agreement was to "establish closer international…

Having a patent on your invention will ensure that you get credit for your work and ideas, as well as any income generated. Patents are not international, so it is important to apply for a patent in…

As protection for an inventor, a patent provides a government-approved monopoly for a limited period of time approved by the U.S. government. This authorization is tracked and limited by specific…

A patent gives an inventor sole right of an invention or idea. This bans other people from using his ideas in any way without his permission. Official patents are issued by the U.S. Patent and…

A patent is government protection for the creator of an invention, giving that person the sole right to make, use and sell the invention for a period of 20 years from the time the patent application…

There are 47 countries on the European continent. Each one of these countries has separate patent procedures which makes locating European patents difficult. The European Patent Organization (EPOrg)…

A patent troll is a person or entity that opportunistically or aggressively enforces its patents in court, even though the person or entity has no intention of marketing or even manufacturing the…

Patented articles or products are required by law to be clearly marked as patented items by the patentee and other businesses involved in the marketing of the products. U.S. patent law says failure to…

The United States' intellectual property laws define patents as a piece of property. The patent can be owned, typically by the inventor, given to someone, donated and even bequeathed to descendants.…

Software development is a growing industry which employs workers from around the world. In theory, almost anyone can engage in development because free tools are readily available. Awareness of legal…

Patent protection in the United States grants the first person to invent a new device or design a new product time and legal recourse to develop that product without the competition of other…

If you need advice in a matter of business law, your best option is certainly an experienced lawyer. (Online directories like hg.org can provide some basic references). On the other hand, a great deal…

A patent is a right or rights given to an inventor by the government for a particular product, idea or service. These rights give the owner sole control of the item's distribution and profits derived…

This right to file and secure a patent was established over 200 years ago in Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution: “to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by…

Patents provide exclusive rights for the manufacture and commercial usage of an invention. Drugs and pharmaceutical items may be patented but the exclusivity promised by a patent may cause hardship on…

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), inventors own their patents and their patent applications. The USPTO allows the transfer of patent rights to third parties in a…

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the right “to promote the progress of s cience and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their…

The world of technology, patents and licensing has shown a tremendous growth in the last 15 or so years. Inventions created in university labs and company research and development offices are being…

Creating an invented food item needs a valid U.S. patent. A patent is a property right granted for a limited time. It excludes others from using, making, importing, selling and/or offering to sell an…

A patent is an exclusive right to anyone who invents or discovers a useful and new process, machine or improvement. A legal patent is applied for by an inventor, and if granted becomes the exclusive…

To get a temporary patent, submit an application to the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO). It is referred to as a provisional patent. If your invention has not been shown to others, is unique and is not…

If you have created a novel invention, you should patent it to protect others from stealing your idea and profiting from it at your expense. Although the United States, unlike most other nations,…

To transfer ownership of a patent from one entity to another, a Patent Assignment will need to be executed between the parties and recorded in the U.S. Patent Office. The person or entity that…

If you have dabbled in creating toys, you may want to patent your invention. Patents prove the toy was your idea by requiring you to show in detail how the toy was conceived and how it is made, using…

Patents, trademarks and plant breeder’s rights fall under the purview of the Office of Intellectual Property Australia. They administer applications for, disputes over and storage of patents.…

As the owner of a patentable product in Ireland, you may wish to apply for a patent to maintain and protect the product's originality. By securing patent protection for your invention, you will be…

The globalization of the world economy allows inventors to market their inventions worldwide. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) makes it easier to patent your invention in PCT member countries,…

In the U.S., the number of filed patent applications has increased nearly every year since 1991, indicating that it is more important than ever for inventors to secure their ideas with the U.S. Patent…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) protects the rights of inventors who develop unique technology for a period of 20 years. This organization welcomes patent applications, reviews…

To patent your invention in Canada, you must file an application with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. If they approve your invention for a patent, you'll be able to control who makes, uses,…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) describes patents and patent applications as personal property. Patent owners may sell or transfer ownership rights to third parties in a process…

Generic versions of brand name drugs may seem to be a violation of a patent but are actually legal and strictly regulated. Patents guarantee the creator exclusive use of the invention, but in the case…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants patents to individual and corporate inventors. The USPTO only grants patents to eligible subject matter as defined by the United States…

In 1970, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) established uniform procedures to submit a patent application to several countries simultaneously. All PCT signatories, known as contracting states, accept…

Obtaining a patent can be a very costly and time-consuming procedure. But it can also pay big dividends if your patent application is successful and your patented item or process is in high demand. So…

Patents are guarantees of exclusive use of ideas, processes or technology. The holder of a patent has exclusive use of the subject of the patent for a specified length of time. There are several types…

Provisional patent applications, or PPAs, reserve an invention for a later, more formal patent application. Inventors and businesspeople file PPAs to protect their intellectual property while the…

You may have dabbled in the art of creating a fun card game, similar to "Pokemon," "Yu-Gi-Oh!" or "Magic: The Gathering." In this endeavor, you may have created something you truly believe could…

If you have invented a new piece of technology, obtaining a patent from the government gives you the right to manufacture and sell your invention exclusively. Patents are granted by the United States…

A patent is a helpful way for inventors to copyright a project without any fears of someone stealing it. However, problems can rise with someone who files a patent. Typically, this happens when one…

If you value your band name and want to ensure that you'll be able to use it legally for the entirety of your band's existence, you'll need to know to how to trademark your band name. A trademark…

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, patents provide individual and corporate inventors intellectual property right protection for up to 20 years. During that time,…

A patent is a legal document issued by a government, granting ownership over a product or procedure. Because a patent is a legal document, there are several aspects required for a proper reference or…

Individual and corporate inventors own patents and patent applications. As owners, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO's) Manual of Patent Examining Procedure allows the transfer of patents…

In the People's Republic of China, patent law has been in existence since the Sixth National People's Congress in 1984. It aims to protect inventions and creations in order to promote science and…

The United States' intellectual property laws treat patents as properties that can be owned, sold or passed on to others. The owner can bequeath his patent to his descendants. The U.S. Congress…

The patent bar (also called the patent bar exam or registration exam) is an examination given by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) as part of the process to become a registered attorney or…

Patents are very important to inventors because they grant the patent holder the right to prohibit anyone else from selling, distributing, marketing or otherwise profiting from the invention in the…

Within Europe, all individual countries have their own intellectual property offices and procedures to grant patents for intellectual property protection within their own borders. In addition, the…

Plato claimed that necessity was the mother of invention. Inventions that fulfill a perceived necessity of society can make inventors millions of dollars in profit. however, there's more to the…

The United States Congress passed a liberal set of patent laws that cover the protection of a broad range of intellectual property (IP). The U.S. system identifies the inventor as the first person who…

A European patent is different from a United States patent in that along with the registration for an idea or an invention, a European patent comes with a grant to pursue the patent idea. As of 2009,…

Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars developing several new drugs every year; patents allow these companies to protect the intellectual property rights associated with those drugs.…

A patent is used to protect the intellectual property right of the creator of an invention. This right is conferred on inventors by the United States government and gives them exclusive ownership of…

Registering a patent can be a very complicated and expensive legal process, but also a very important step toward protecting your new invention. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)…

Patents in Canada are granted for "new inventions" or "any new and useful improvement of an existing invention." Your business method must be novel (the first of its kind in the world), useful, and…

You must pass the United States Patent and Trademark Office registration examination, also known as the patent bar, to be a patent agent. Lawyers who pass the exam will be registered as patent lawyers…

If you have taken the time to invent something, such as a unique television, then you will undoubtedly want the credit for your work. That is, you would not want anybody else to build the same thing…

The United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) grants patent protection from fourteen to twenty years pending the type of patents filed with their office. The issue of the patent gives the…

In order to become a patent agent or patent attorney in the United States, you must pass the Patent Bar Exam. The Patent Bar Exam is a test consisting of 100 questions. You have six hours to complete…

Technology professionals do not have a single overarching code of ethics like medical professionals do: There is not a technological counterpart to the Hippocratic Oath used by doctors. Instead, there…

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allows applicants to apply for a patent online. The USPTO prefers this method because it improves accuracy and accelerates the application process. The…

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants utility patents for inventions of new, nonobvious, and useful processes, machines, or compositions of matter or for inventions that make a useful…

Canadian patent rules fall under the jurisdiction of the country's federal Patent Office, part of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). A successful patent application gives inventors…

A patent is a grant made by a government that gives the rights to the creator of an invention to make, use and sell that specific invention for a predetermined set of time. Patents are important to…

Patents give inventors ownership of their invention, but the process is complex, and is often best left to a patent agent or attorney. Patents are issued by a national regulatory body, the U.S. Patent…

The patent system protects your rights when you come up with a unique new invention or product. The system legally ensures that only you have the right to manufacture, import, use or sell your…

Patents are used to protect inventions from being used, sold or replicated without authorization of and compensation to the inventor. A patent protects the property rights of the inventor for up to 20…

Let's say you have drafted a new idea that you believe can add value to society. Some of your colleagues have joined you, and you think that all involved should be named inventors on the patent.…

A patent is a form of intellectual property protection afforded to inventors and designers of new and original ideas. Filing a patent is a way for the inventor to restrict others from creating a…

The American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 made it a law that the U.S. Patent and Trade Office, or USPTO, release the content of patent applications to the public 18 months after the filing.Until…

When drafting a patent application, it is very important to identify who the true inventors are because those people will have their names on the patent when it finally issues. Legally, to qualify as…

A patent is a property right granted in a particular item, process, design or plant by the federal government. A patent grants the patent holder the right to "exclude," or prevent, others from…

Government legal restrictions, such as intellectual property law, are one source of monopoly power. Patents limit the production of a new invention or use of a new production process to its creator,…

When you have created an invention or have an idea for an invention, one of the ways to protect your rights to that invention is to obtain a patent for it. A patent is a legal document that is issued…

The British patent system is very similar to that of the United States, particularly with a national, centralized office that handles review, certification and approval. Once approved, a British…

Though Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, he never received a penny for the invention. News of the cotton gin spread, and it became so popular that people broke into his workshop and stole the…

If an inventor remains close to the patent process, he may have a disquieting feeling after his patent has issued. The inventor may not have appreciated the extent to which the patent claims were…

Perhaps you've written additional code that works with an existing software program. Or you've added a feature to a kitchen tool, such as attaching a magnet to a cooking mitt. Regardless of what…

A patent defect describes a flaw that is noticeable upon visual inspection. This legal term is often used in contrast with a "latent" defect, which points to a problem detected later in time and not…

Have you got an original idea for a design that you want patented? First, you should know exactly what a patent is and what types of designs are patentable. A patent generally carries with it the…

Just as the scope of real property is determined by looking to metes and bounds, the scope of a patent is determined by the claims. And just as the language used in metes and bounds is very specific,…

Traversing an office action from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) can be exciting because it allows the inventor to contest the views of the patent office. By framing his argument…

Patent cases are extraordinarily expensive to litigate; patent damages can be enough to bankrupt even large companies. Fortunately, this risk can be anticipated and minimized.

If you come up with an original idea or product and wish to be able to claim it as your own, you will eventually have to register for a patent. A patent ensures that the idea is legally credited to…

Issued patents describe new ideas that presumably have never been published or patented in the past. However, the patent examiners of the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) sometimes grant patents…

A patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants the patent's holder the right to prevent others from making the patented item or using the patented method. This is…

The patent process in Malaysia is relatively straightforward and involves a minimum of hassle for inventors; the wait time for new patent applications, however, can be daunting. For a Malaysian patent…

Patent risks refer to the potential liabilities associated with patenting software developed from open source code.

Patent quality refers to the ability of a patent to withstand legal disputes about its claims while providing the inventor with broad ownership rights.

Patent retrieval refers to a process that reviews past publications and patents to construct the intellectual property landscape surrounding a novel concept.

Patent and exclusivity refer to two legal tools available to pharmaceutical manufacturers who want to temporary block competitors from entering their market.

Under 35 U.S.C. 154, the term of a patent begins "on the date on which the patent issues and ending 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States."…

Patent landscaping searches for intellectual property around a specific concept and assesses whether it presents an obstacle to successfully grant a new patent in the same space.

A composition patent refers to a pharmaceutical patent that protects a composition of matter. The U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) places this type of patent under the category of “utility…

Protect your brilliant new idea or invention for up to 20 years by filing a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). They will issue you a U.S. patent giving you the property rights,…

A patent, granted by the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO), provides an inventor the exclusive legal right to produce, sell and license intellectual property that falls within specific…

The exclusive right to use an invention or is provided in the form of patent protection. Patent rights are specifically granted by the United States Patent and Trademark, office, and can only be done…

35 U.S.C. 101 states that "Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent."…

Patents give inventors the exclusive right to make, use or sell their invention for 20 years after the patent is approved. When the U.S. Patent Office issues a notice of allowance for a patent, it…

Patent law is a complicated maze of filing dates and deadlines. Patent docket specialists have their fingers on every patent and trademark application filed by their law firm.

A patent is a way to protect your idea. The people who can write, file and prosecute patents before filing for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are a patent attorney, a patent…

The process of applying for a patent with the United States Patent Office (UPTO) can be daunting. It is a completely unique experience, with its own vocabulary and legal and monetary requirements.…

The federal government issues patents to protect inventors from having their inventions duplicated by others for a specified period of time. Patent protection duration depends on the type of patent…

The United States is one of the few nations of the world that patents business methods. In 1988, the US Supreme Court cleared the way for business patents under the clause in U.S. patent law that…

The patent bar examination is available to an individual with or without a law degree and attorney's license. A person who passes a bar exam in one of the states and then succeeds with the patent bar…

A patent is a complex document that details information about a concept or invention. Patents all follow the same format, which is quite specific in nature and most information cannot be left out in…

Protection of technology and other intellectual property is growing increasingly difficult as digital mediums expand. The ease of creating unauthorized duplicates of digital technology fuels the…

The business names of many companies are the most important assets they possess, representing their reputation and accumulated good will. Since the hijacking of a business name by an unscrupulous…

Utility patents pertain to technologies and other man-made inventions. As stated in the patent laws, anyone who "invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition…

There are strategies each inventor must employ as they go through the development process in order for an invention to be a financial success for its inventor. Developing the idea for an invention is…

When you have an idea for an invention, a work of art or some other form of "intellectual property," you must patent it to protect your financial interest in that property. A patent is an "exclusive…

Once a patent has been granted, it is no longer able to be amended within the database of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, within the patent process there are opportunities to…

If you have invented a product that you feel is potentially marketable, then you should acquire a patent on your product, according to the National Inventor Fraud Center. By getting a patent, you will…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has records of patents granted in the U.S. since 1790 (full-page images) and full text since 1976. You can use the patent number issued by the…

The last thing an attorney thinks about after passing a state bar exam and being admitted into a state bar is another rigorous bar process. Patent attorneys help clients obtain patents on their ideas…

You've got a world-shattering idea and are convinced you need a patent. A patent attorney can certainly guide you through the search and application process but it may not be necessary and almost…

The purpose of a patent is to protect your intellectual property rights. Even if you believe your creation is one of a kind, your creation must meet several governmental requirements to ensure your…

Many thousands of creative Americans get their ideas patented yearly, and their ideas permanently go on record. This can make tracking a patent a very tedious process, especially if you are unsure…

Creating a plastic model can be a long, drawn out process that extends from the design phase, where the model is nothing more than a picture on the page, to the mold making stage, where you're molding…

The invention or discovery of a new product or process can bring about a new career--or a legal nightmare, if the proper steps aren't followed. To ensure your new idea or product remains under your…

Have you invented a perfume that is truly unique and potentially profitable? A patent can be used to protect your scent for a limited time, usually 20 years. Here's how to patent your perfume.

After developing a unique project, you want to protect it from being stolen. A patent provides you the sole use of your project for 20 years. However, getting patent can be a long process that all…

You've invented the next great drink and want to protect your rights to it. The best way to protect your invention is through a patent. But getting a patent, even in the best of circumstances, is…

Patents are designed to protect inventors for having their inventions duplicated and used to make profits by others. This legal protection can be acquired by filing for patents through the U.S. Patent…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers patents that are used to prevent inventions from being duplicated by other people and used for profit. Patent records are maintained…

A patent is a set of rights granted by the government to an inventor of a specific invention or design. Patents are valid for an allotted amount of time to allow the owner to profit from his or her…

So you've come up with a unique idea for a board game? Congratulations! Before you put your game into production, it's critical that you protect your intellectual property. In addition to copyrighting…

There are two dates associated with a patent. The first is the application filing date, which is the date on which the United States Patent & Trademark Office receives a completed patent application.…

Your idea for the next great gizmo could be worth millions. To protect your investment (even if it's just an idea at this time), submit an application for a patent. Getting a patent gives you the sole…

Finding the details of a patent is difficult if the patent number isn't listed on the item in question. The reason is that patents aren't classified by an invention's name but buy what the invention…

The connection between a patent and a license is an often confused area of law that can lead to lawsuits. The rights you have to your invention are not absolute but are protected by the constitution.

Patents remain in place for 20 years to provide inventors exclusive rights to their intellectual discoveries. Patents allow intellectual property owners to determine when and how their creativity will…

The U.S. Patent and Trademark office oversees the filing and issuing of patents. Patents protect inventors from other people duplicating and profiting from their inventions. Patents can be filed as…

Patenting a device is done through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Devices fall under the utility patent classification, which identifies new processes, machines, manufactured articles or…

The U.S. government has issued more than 6.5 million patents since 1790. At one time, looking up patent holders meant poring through stacks of paper or studying endless rolls of microfilm. Not…

If you are an inventor by trade or simply believe that you have a great idea, one important part of the creative process is attempting to determine whether your idea has already been produced by…

In the U.S., a patent grants the inventor of a device a property right over the device that typically lasts 20 years from the date the patent application was filed.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a patent as "a writing securing for a term of years the exclusive right to make, use or sell an invention." The dictionary defines a trademark as "a device (as a…

The patent system is a critical component of the free trade market; it encourages the invention of original products. With a patent, an innovator can enjoy the fruits of his labor, but sometimes,…

You cannot patent a book. A book is copyrighted the moment it is created. The owner of the copyright is the creator of the work, unless he or she transfers the copyright. It isn't necessary to…

Requesting a patent could not be easier. Anyone with internet access can have immediate patent information. It is always a good idea to search all of the patent databases prior to applying for a…

Inventors apply for patents to protect their original ideas. To receive a patent you must submit a completed, official application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It is…

A patent is an exclusive right given to a corporation or someone for an invention, allowing them to bar others from producing, making or selling the patented invention. A patent also allows the patent…

Mandatory patent licensing of technology occurs in a variety of circumstances and is also referred to as compulsory licensing. This is an exception to the primary purpose of patent laws of providing…

The holder of a patent or pending patent on a particular product or technology may wish to license the right to exploit the patent to an outside manufacturer or other entity, to avoid the high costs…

A patent is the type of legal protection granted to inventors to secure their intellectual property rights for their work. The authority for granting patents is stated in Article 1, Section 8 of the…

A patent agent helps inventors who aren't sure how to navigate the complex patent application process.

A patent is a set of exclusive legal rights granted to an inventor by a government (or regional authority as in the case of the European Union) for a set period of time that prevents others from using…

The details of patent law are complex, and the process for obtaining a patent can take years in some cases. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of patent law are not particularly difficult to grasp. If you…

A patent is a form of intellectual property where a government grants an inventor exclusive rights to use, sell and manufacture and profit from his invention for a specific period of time.

In Pakistan, any person can apply for a patent on his invention, according to that country's Intellectual Property Organization. The Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan states four main…

Patent law has become fairly standardized worldwide. Nevertheless, the patent law of every country has individual quirks that set it a degree apart from other countries. Patent law in India is highly…

Getting a patent in the United States can take years and a lot of money, and seeking patent protection in other countries requires additional time and further expenses. However, being able to…

A patent is a bundle of intellectual property rights that protects an inventor's exclusive right to use and profit from a technological creation for a specified period. Although patents are not…

Anyone who wants to protect an invention must contact the United States Patent and Trademark office. There is an application form that must be filled out properly before anyone can assume ownership of…

Patents are an important part of our economy. Knowing this information is important for those who have or are seeking to invent something. Ignorance of patents can lead to someone stealing your…

Inventors obtain patents to protect the rights to their inventions. A patent can only be issued for something that is a new concept and not obvious. If you believe that a person is trying to take…

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a patent is a property right granted by the Government of the United States of America to an inventor to exclude others from making, using,…

While many inventors have an insatiable need to create new products and ideas that could potentially change the world, many would like to earn money or gain recognition from those great ideas. Once…

When you patent a new invention, it's possible to incur up to $15,000 in filing costs and legal fees. You could patent your invention yourself, though. Before you approach the U.S. Patent and…

Obtaining a patent for original crafts requires a design patent. These patents are intended to protect the designer from other individuals copying the design and using it for monetary gains. Design…

By getting a patent, you legally protect your invention or idea from being used by other people or businesses. Similar to a patent, trademarks protect names, words and symbols, whereas a copyright…

Business organizations often hold the rights to numerous types of intellectual property in the form of patents, trademarks, licenses and royalties. These organizations use docketing software designed…

If you have a brand new invention that you want to patent, the right information can help you understand your chances of receiving patent approval. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is the federal…

When you apply for a patent, you are applying to make yourself the sole manufacturer or distributor of a product for a certain number of years, which vary depending on the type of patent you are…

What does a patent look like? To see an authentic example of a patent, you must first know how to use the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office's database. To view an example, let's take a look at Patent No.…

There are three main types of patents. Utility, design and plant patents are issued depending on the nature of the invention. A divisional patent is based on a previous patent application for one of…

There are three ways to obtain patent protection in European nations--the national, European, and international routes. Perhaps the most popular method is the European route through the European…

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) oversees the issuance of three types of patents: utility patents, plant patents and design patents. The most common patent granted by the PTO is the utility…

The United States Patent and Trademark Offices has established a procedure for new inventors who want to acquire a patent for their useful, novel and non-obvious creations. The first steps to make…

When researchers make discoveries that are both unique and significant, they seek patent protection from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Established in 1802, the office today issues…

When inventor King Camp Gillette patented the safety razor in 1904, he probably had a strong hunch that his handy new tool would revolutionize the way men shaved for more than a century to come. If…

If you have an invention, you should immediately seek patent protection for it. Seeking patent protection in Germany is similar to seeking patent protection in most other countries. There is one…

One of the many controversial topics in the field of genetics is the existence of gene patents. In general, raw products of nature are not patentable. New gene sequences found, with specified…

A patent is a protection granted for novel, useful and non-obvious processes or products such as inventions. Patents are great tools to exclude others from utilizing your new creation. Use this…

If you are an inventor, it is important to register a patent to protect yourself against copycats who would profit from your innovation at your expense. Although the United States relies on a "first…

Patents are government-issued licenses that protect the inventor of a specific creation, providing an opportunity to realize the economic fruits of the invention. The patent process is fairly…

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the governmental entity that establishes patenting fees. The USPTO is also responsible for approving patent applications. There are various…

Patents encourage innovation by helping inventors make money from their work. Patentable inventions often involve complex science and technology, anything from microchips to pharmaceuticals, so a…

A PCT application is an international patent application. It's one of several steps that must be taken to obtain patent protection in countries other than the home country of the applicant.

Federal patent law affords protection to inventions and discoveries that are useful, novel in relation to prior art in the field, or nonobvious to a person of ordinary skill in that field. To secure…

Patent applications are filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) by an inventor or by a patent attorney. The process of patenting an item or business model, otherwise known as…

Take out a patent by examining the terms and procedures online, or by hiring a patent attorney certified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Get advice from a certified family mediator…

You've had an idea that you know will sell. It might be a useful time-saving gadget, an improvement on an invention that already exists or even a new plant species. It could be worth money. You want…

Are you an inventor? If you are, then you should definitely consider applying for patent protection, because a patent will prevent others from profiting from your inventiveness at your expense for at…

If your patent application is approved, the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, will grant you exclusive property rights to your invention, thereby excluding others from…

It's a common misconception that names are patented. While handled by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the actual process for registering names is called either a trademark or a service…

Did you ever think of an idea or create something so unique that you thought about getting it patented? Many people do and suddenly become very wealthy since their creation was useful for many people.…

If you have come up with a unique invention, you can acquire a patent from the government to protect your idea from being copied by someone else. Modern day patents can be traced back to Italy in the…

Dealing with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is intimidating, especially for novices. It's perfectly acceptable to contact the patent examiner the PTO assigns to your patent application. You can…

You don't have to worry about the Patent And Trademark Office (PTO) designating your patent application as abandoned just because you can't meet the next deadline. Just extend a patent deadline by…

It takes a special act of Congress to renew an existing patent, so most patent holders must make the most of the standard 20 years during which they can hold a patent. According to the U.S. Patent and…

The majority of patent applications are rejected the first time through the process, which involves a review by the patent board at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). An applicant may…

Contrary to popular belief, patents cover more than just gadgets, widgets and other inventions. It's also possible to patent a business method or, more specifically, as defined in the U.S. patent…

To patent protect your software technology, you must apply for and receive a patent. To do so, you must have invented software technology that meets the basic criteria for being a patentable…

To understand the reasons for the rejection of a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it's important to know what an inventor must prove in a patent application. The USPTO looks for…

When you patent an invention in one country, it's critical to understand that the patent holds for only that country. To make your U.S. patent valid in Canada, you must apply separately to Canada to…

Since a U.S. patent, which prevents others from manufacturing or selling a specific design or invention, is valid only in the United States and its territories, you must reapply for a new patent in…

Determining when you need a patent, which excludes others from selling, manufacturing or offering a particular design or invention, depends on meeting standards set by the United States Patent and…

According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a patent is a "grant of a property right to the inventor" for any particular invention. Obtaining a patent from the USPTO protects…

If you want to protect an invention, your safest bet is to get a patent. It's a lengthy, involved and expensive process, but when you come out the other end, you'll have won exclusive rights to your…

Your concept may be novel and your invention may be exactly what everybody needs. However, unless you get your patented idea from the drawing board into your customer's hands, it won't do anyone any…

Although some people think the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) plays a role in patent infringement situations, it doesn't. You, the patent owner, must assume the full burden of stopping others…