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…
The Largest Free Patent and Trademark Q&A Resource: 590+ Posts on IP
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…
How to Respond to a Trademark Audit
What is a trademark audit? The USPTO has implemented a process to audit the renewal of trademark registrations. It is called the Trademark Post Registration…
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
Can you speed up design patent applications? Prior to April 17, 2025, Rocket Docket was an option to speed up the examination of design patent…
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,…
How hard is it to get a patent?
How hard is it to get a utility patent? Before delving into how hard it is to get a utility patent, we should define that…
What is the probability of getting a utility patent?
What is the average utility patent success rate? It is no surprise that utility patents are substantially harder to obtain than design patents. What may…
How much does a patent cost from start to finish?
How much does it cost to get a patent? A one-size-fits-all patent does not exist. Patents vary widely. Design patents, for example, are more predictable…
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