Do I Really Need a Patent Attorney?

Oct 21, 2020 | Design, Inventor, Patent, Utility

Do I really need a Patent Attorney?

The success rate of inventors attempting to file their own patent applications is very low compared to the success in obtaining meaningful patent protection using an experienced patent lawyer. The reason being is that there are hundreds of pages of laws, rules, and interpretations, as well as a specific vocabulary covering the writing of a patent application that must be learned before writing a patent application. A rule or law can change overnight by the Supreme Court or by the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO). Patent attorneys are the only attorneys who must have a technical degree and then pass both a state and a federal patent bar exam before being allowed to practice patent law before the USPTO, before writing/prosecuting patent applications, before giving patentability opinions, and the like.  Therefore, unless you plan on studying patent law for a couple of years and before attempting to execute a process fraught with traps, complexities, and difficulties, it would be best to consult an expert, i.e., an experienced patent attorney (someone with at least 10 years of experience).

What is the difference between a patent, a trademark, and a copyright?

Oct 13, 2020 | Copyright, Patent, Service Mark, Trademark

  • A patent protects an idea such as a product, method, system, design, or the like, from others making, using, selling, or importing it.
  • A traditional trademark protects a name or logo from others using it to market their own goods or services.
  • A copyright protects something you created, like an image, a piece of writing, or music, and prevents others from using it as their own creation.

What impact will Brexit have on Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the UK?

Jun 30, 2016 | Inventor, Law Firm News, Patent

In the short term, the answer is none. For a period of at least two years, there will be no impact on IP and, after that, EU membership is expected to be replaced with new trade arrangements. When the UK is closer to leaving the EU and more information is released, we will work closely with our associates to ensure a smooth transition is made for the IP matters of all of our clients.

Filing and prosecuting patents, including filing oppositions etc., will remain unchanged when the UK leaves the EU in two years or later. We will still be able to file patents at the European Patent Office (EPO) because the EPO is not an EU institution and the EPO doesn’t rely upon being a member of the EU.