Patent is an exclusive right to appropriate an invention. Patent is often considered a luxury to a small and midsize business. More often than not, you find out about the importance of patents after someone accuses you of a patent infringement. It could be a cease and desist letter or a service of process. Without an understanding of how… Continue reading What is Patent?
Insights
Intellectual Properties in Business
Virtually everything that gives your business a competitive edge is protected by the law. Your supplier list is a trade secret. Your company/brand names are trademarks. You can (and you should) patent your new and unique business/product ideas to prevent copycats. For many start-up companies, intellectual properties are all they have. Trademark and Patent It wouldn’t be fair if… Continue reading Intellectual Properties in Business
US Trademark Backlog in the 1Q 2018?
There’s been reports about a huge number of applications, originating from China. See e.g. this WJ article at https://www.wsj.com/articles/flood-of-trademark-applications-fromchinaalarms-u-s-officials-1525521600. Then, is there a backlog created by the increase of Chinese trademarks? I had a chance to look at the dates of applications filed on behalf of my clients from 3Q to 4Q of ’17 and to… Continue reading US Trademark Backlog in the 1Q 2018?
We should ditch Avvo.
*For those of you who are not familiar with Avvo, it’s a website where lawyers give out free answers and, in return, get ranked higher in its proprietary lawyer directory. Isn’t a lawyer just like a mechanic? Observation: You walk into their places, and you aren’t quite sure what’s going on. And you pretty much pay what’s on… Continue reading We should ditch Avvo.
How to get a patent without costing a fortune?
How can IPfever reduce the cost of patent? We set up simple rules: (1) you do your own homework; (2) attorneys work online; and (3) we make sure the attorneys fees are proportional to what you get. First, you do your own homework. If you just ignore an issue because it’s too much to deal with yourself, nothing ever changes.… Continue reading How to get a patent without costing a fortune?
How Does Patent Work for Small to Mid-size Business?
Patent is an intellectual property right, which is not aimed to boost the economy but intended to advance science and technology. So, many business-minded people will struggle with the basic concept of patent and how it should be used for their business. On the other hand, patent is recognized as the most reliable and strong… Continue reading How Does Patent Work for Small to Mid-size Business?
Value of a patent: the cost-benefit analysis
Will your patent justify your time and money? This is where you can benefit from a consultation to a patent attorney who understands your technology and has your best interest in mind. The truth is virtually anything can be patented … if you don’t mind what is claimed in the patent. In other words, you sufficiently narrow the scope… Continue reading Value of a patent: the cost-benefit analysis
Why you need a patent?
Getting a patent is not like having a trademark registered. If you started using a name, logo, image, or even a sequence of musical notes as a symbol that stands for your product or service, you already have a trademark. Trademark registration is a way to give an affirmative notice to the public that you are using the mark. The registration offers some perks, which are… Continue reading Why you need a patent?
Are you an attorney interested in working with IPfever?
IPfever is not a legal service provider, but it’s in a business of helping small and midsize businesses to tackle their legal issues. Some of the help must come from licensed professionals like you. It currently provides access to federal trademark and patent related legal services, but an expansion to other areas of law is desirable. First of all, you must be… Continue reading Are you an attorney interested in working with IPfever?
What is Availability Retainer?
Availability retainer is not an advance payment. Typically, attorneys ask for a retainer, so they won’t end up with nothing in their pocket. It goes like this. You hire an attorney to represent in a civil action. You pay $1,000 as a part of the retainer agreement between you and your attorney. The attorney will do works… Continue reading What is Availability Retainer?