Blog - Page 12 of 16 - Daniel Law Offices, P.A.

26Jan 2023 by Pat Geddie

Can You Get a Patent Without a Lawyer?

Of course, you may be able to get a patent without a lawyer. The real question is whether you should try to get a patent without a lawyer, and the answer is no. Although you could theoretically succeed on your own, an attorney will increase your chances of success and help you avoid pitfalls. Before you can apply for a patent, you should do an extensive search through patent databases and publicly available sources to determine whether there are similar patents out there. An attorney knows where to search and what may be considered similar. It would be a waste of time and money to apply for a patent only to learn that your invention could not have been patented in the first place. Then, the patent examiner may have…

26Jan 2023 by Pat Geddie

Can AI Be an Inventor and Obtain a Patent?

Patents

Everywhere you look today, there seems to be a new application for artificial intelligence (AI). This frontier is the next great one in technology. There have been legal questions about whether AI can qualify as an inventor under federal patent laws. According to a federal appeals court, the answer is no. In this case, the proposed patent listed an AI system as an inventor. The examiner denied the application for the patent, and the applicant appealed. The issue, in this case, is who can be considered an “inventor” within the meaning of federal patent laws. Only an inventor may obtain a patent for an invention. The appeals court sidestepped the complicated question of “the nature of the invention or the rights, if any, of AI systems” and instead focused on…

26Jan 2023 by Pat Geddie

What is the Most Common Type of Patent?

Patents

Utility patents are known as patents for inventions, and they are by far the most common type of patent. Of the roughly 12 million patents issued by the USPTO, roughly 11 million of them have been utility patents. The other two types of patents are design patents and plant patents. It is much more difficult to get a utility patent than it is a design patent. The USPTO has stringent requirements for what must be submitted with your application. One applies for a utility patent for inventions such as machines, processes, compositions of matter, and articles of manufacture. Here, the inventor makes a new or improved product or process. A utility patent gives the inventor exclusive rights to their own invention for a period of time and prevents others from…

05Jan 2023 by Pat Geddie

Violations of Trade Secrets

Trade Secrets

Your confidential business information can be valuable. When it falls into the wrong hands, it can do incalculable damage to your business. If someone else has wrongfully obtained your trade secrets, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them. Even if you do not have a patent, trade secrets are part of your company's intellectual property. You use them to make money. Your company counts on employees to protect Trade Secrets, as you may suffer if the information ends up in the competitors' hands or in the public realm. Not everything is a trade secret violation. Usually, there is some sort of improper action. It could be carelessness on the part of your employees and protecting the information. Trade secret violations could also involve nefarious and dishonest means…

04Dec 2022 by Pat Geddie

Difference Between Patents and Trademarks

Patents

Both patents and trademarks protect your company’s intellectual property, but they apply to different types of ideas. A patent protects your inventions and ideas. You may have devised a product or a process that you want to keep for yourself because you have taken the time and invested the effort to devise it. The goal of a patent is to promote and protect innovation. You would hold the exclusive right to use your patent, or you can license it to someone else in exchange for royalties. The patent process can be difficult and time-consuming, but you need to obtain a patent in order to get the full protection. In order for something to be patentable, it must be a new and useful invention that is not obvious to others. Patents…

03Nov 2022 by Pat Geddie

Do You Need to Register a Trademark for Protection?

Trademark

Your company has worked hard to build its name and brand value with the public. However, if you do not take action to protect it, someone else may be able to benefit from your own hard work. In order to achieve the maximum amount of protection, you should consider registering your trademark. Without registration, you may still have some common law protection, but it would be limited to a certain geographic area. In addition, the scope of your rights may be undefined. When you register your trademark, you may get a permanent right to it., so long as you continue to use your trademark in commerce. The public would have noticed that you have the right to the trademark, and there would be a legal presumption that you own it.…

27Sep 2022 by Pat Geddie

Do You Need a Patent Lawyer?

Patents

While there is no legal requirement to hire a patent attorney, it is certainly a smart move on your part. Intellectual property is a very high-stakes area of the law. If you do not properly protect what you have worked hard to build and obtain, you may lose all the value of your invention or idea. At the same time, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit if someone else thinks that you have violated their rights. The patent application process can be complex. Much of the work is done before you would even file with the United States patent and trademark office. You must do a thorough patent search that includes potential ideas that could be similar to yours. The USPTO may not readily accept…

29Aug 2022 by Pat Geddie

Is Your Invention Patentable?

Invention

There's a strict legal definition of what is considered patentable. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, you may obtain a patent for any "new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter.” A patent means that you, and you alone, have the right to use this invention. Not everything can be patented. Otherwise, you would wrongfully get unlimited rights to something that others should have the ability to use. There are four broad categories of inventions that can be patented: A combination of steps or methods Something that is manufactured from materials A machine that is a combination of parts A composition of matter to make a new substance Your patent should be novel work that you have done. There are certain things that may be…

31Jul 2022 by Pat Geddie

What Businesses Need Intellectual Property Protections?

Intellectual Property

As a business owner, you have a lot to deal with. One thing on your list should be intellectual property protections, as most companies need them. If you are unsure what protections are available or need assistance seeking them, consult with an Orlando IP lawyer as soon as possible. Products or Designs Does your company sell products? If so, every invention you sell should be patented first. The same goes if your company designed new software or came up with an improvement to existing products or programs. Some companies might start with a provisional patent application, while others will start with the full patent application. In either case, you should have legal guidance through this process. Creative Works Does your company have creative works, such as writings, musical recordings, designs,…

30May 2022 by Pat Geddie

Types of Patent Infringement

Patents

If you have patent rights, you might have an individual or company trying to infringe on them. There are different types of patent infringement that might occur. Direct - Direct infringement involves producing, selling, using, or importing the patented object without the proper license. This is a willful type of infringement. Indirect - This infringement can involve inducing patent infringement or contributing to infringement (discussed below). Parties can be liable for indirect infringement even if they were not part of the original infringement. Willful - Someone willfully infringes on a patent when they know a patent exists and completely disregards the patent protections and restrictions. When infringement is willful, the infringing party can face harsher penalties in court. Induced - A party might aid or assist in patent infringement by…

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Can You Get a Patent Without a Lawyer?

Can AI Be an Inventor and Obtain a Patent?

What is the Most Common Type of Patent?

Violations of Trade Secrets

Difference Between Patents and Trademarks

Do You Need to Register a Trademark for Protection?

Do You Need a Patent Lawyer?

Is Your Invention Patentable?

What Businesses Need Intellectual Property Protections?

Types of Patent Infringement

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