First file PCT or US patent application?
Should you file PCT or US patent application first? When you need patents in the US and foreign countries, you must eventually file multiple patent…
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How to analyze prior art in Office Action
Prior art cited in patent Office Action When prior art is cited in an Office Action to reject your claims, the typical reaction of applicants…
Patent publication = published patent application
What is a patent publication? A patent publication is a published utility patent application which is not the same thing as a patent. While a…
Should you apply for a trademark in color?
What is a color claim in trademark application? Color is an issue only when dealing with design marks, such as logos, that have elements of…
What is a suggestive trademark?
What is a suggestive mark? A suggestive trademark has wording that suggests characteristics of the underlying goods or services without saying it outright. As stated…
What is a trademark audit?
What is a trademark audit? The USPTO has recently started a process to audit the maintenance or renewals of trademark registrations, called the Trademark Post…
Can you renew a patent?
Can a patent be renewed? No, you cannot renew a patent in the US. Technically speaking, US utility patents are maintained, not renewed. The connotation…
Too Late to Patent? How to Protect Products After Sales or Public Disclosures
Is it too late to patent a product after it has been sold or publicly disclosed? Maybe not. Ideally, you would have filed patent applications…
How much do foreign patents cost?
Foreign patent costs Foreign patent costs are high. If we’re talking about utility patents, expect about $2,000 to $6,000 for the initial filing in each…
Patent process from Problem to Idea to Granted Patent
A Problem The journey to a granted patent starts with a problem. You search for a satisfactory solution, but can’t find any. Others may have…
What is acquired distinctiveness (secondary meaning)?
What is a trademark with acquired distinctiveness? Some trademarks are inherently distinctive from the start. Inherently distinctive marks generally include marks that are arbitrary, fanciful…
How to Speed Up Design Patent Applications with Rocket Docket
Can you speed up design patent applications? Yes, you can speed up the examination of design patent applications by filing a request for expedited examination…
How to Get Broader Patent Claims
Broader patent claims: when less is more Before we dive into this discussion, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what we…
Trademark Strategy: 5 Steps to Optimize Chances of Successful Registration
What is a trademark strategy that will improve the chances of registering your mark? A successful trademark registration will depend a great deal upon the…
Patent strategy: 5 steps to improve chances of getting a patent
Your patent strategy depends on your goals Patent strategies should be dictated by end goals. So it makes sense to start with a worthy goal,…
