Whenever a business is started it is important to protect your intellectual property to build value, attract investors, obtain a competitive edge, and to prevent others from using, stealing, or copying your inventions, creative works, brands, and trademarks. Some areas to evaluate for potential intellectual property protection include: Utility Patents - physical products, software or mobile applications, and methods of using, making, or manufacturing Design Patents - the uniq

Trademark Consent Agreements need to include the following: (1) set forth reasons why the parties believe there is no likelihood of confusion; and (2) describes the arrangements undertaken by the parties to avoid confusing the public. See In re Mastic Inc. , 829 F.2d 1114, 1117-18, 4 USPQ2d 1292, 1295-96 (Fed. Cir. 1987); In re Permagrain Prods., Inc. , 223 USPQ 147, 149 (TTAB 1984); TMEP §1207.01(d)(viii). Otherwise, the consents are generally accorded little weight in a lik

Nondisclosure agreements (NDA) are legally binding contracts between a disclosing party (an inventor or business) and a recipient (a prototyping company, manufacturer, engineer, or investor). At a foundational level, an NDA details confidential information that the disclosing party wants to restrict the recipient from sharing or using outside of the business relationship between the disclosing party and the recipient. For example, an inventor wants to share their invention de

It takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months to obtain a United States trademark registration. After the application is filed, the first examination or office action is typically issued after about 5 or 6 months (based on the caseload of the trademark office). Depending on the effectiveness of the amendments or arguments necessary to respond to the office action, a second office action may issue which may take a few more months. If all the issues and refusals in the office actions

Trademark applications typically involve a two-part fee. The first part is paid to the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a filing fee for filing of the application. The second part is paid to the trademark attorney for their time in preparing the application and filing the application.