Category: Patent Protection
A Guide to Paying Patent Maintenance Fees
Thursday | September 7, 2023By Shane Skwarekpatent attorneypatent feespatent maintenance feesPatent ProtectionThe current enforceable period for a utility Patent is 20 years from the date of filing. However, in order to maintain the enforceability of your utility Patent, you must pay maintenance fees at regular intervals throughout the 20-year term of…
Read MoreHow long does it take to get a patent in 2021? And what about COVID-19?
Thursday | June 10, 2021By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationpatent eligibilitypatent lawpatent officepatent office guidancePatent ProtectionAn applicant secures a patent after successfully prosecuting the patent application at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). When the USPTO believes an application embodies an invention worthy of a patent, the USPTO grants a Notice of Allowance.…
Read MoreFull Patent Protection vs. a Provisional Patent Application
Thursday | May 27, 2021By Shane Skwarekpatent draftingpatent eligibilityPatent Protectionprovisional patentprovisional patent applicationThe cost savings of filing a provisional patent application without consulting a professional are certainly tempting. However, such a strategy may ultimately cost more in the long run, including possibly costing valuable patent protection. What is a Provisional Patent Application?…
Read MoreThe Difference between Utility, Design, and Plant Patents
Tuesday | May 18, 2021By Shane Skwarekpatent eligibilitypatent lawpatent lawyerpatent officePatent ProtectionIntellectual property is generally separated into different categories including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. U.S. patent law further divides patents into three different types: utility, design, and plant patents. Each type of patent serves a similar purpose of spurring…
Read MoreTesla’s Lasers on Vehicle Patent
Tuesday | March 30, 2021By Shane Skwarekfiling patent applicationpatent applicationpatent attorneypatent claimpatent draftingpatent eligibilitypatent lawpatent lawyerpatent officepatent pendingPatent ProtectionIn May of 2019, Tesla filed a patent application for “Pulsed Laser Cleaning of Debris Accumulated on Glass Articles in Vehicles and Photovoltaic Assemblies.” Instead of using conventional windshield wipers, Tesla envisioned a system to clean debris from any glass…
Read MoreWhy Perform a Patentability Search before Filing Your Patent Application?
Monday | March 1, 2021By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationpatent attorneypatent claimpatent draftingpatent eligibilitypatent lawPatent ProtectionPatentability searches can be useful to get a better idea of whether an invention can be patented. A good search may prevent the cost of a wasted patent application on an already-invented and published invention, but can also be useful…
Read MoreAmazon Brand Registry
Tuesday | December 22, 2020By Shane Skwarekintellectual propertypatent attorneypatent claimpatent claimspatent infringementpatent lawpatent lawyerPatent ProtectionWhat is Amazon Brand Registry? Brand owners work hard to protect their intellectual property (IP), including their trademarked brands. Amazon has recently become one of the largest companies in the world by providing a marketplace for sellers and buyers to…
Read MoreWhen is it too late to file a patent application?
Wednesday | October 7, 2020By Shane Skwarekfiling patent applicationpatent applicationpatent lawyerPatent ProtectionGetting the timing right for filing a Patent Application can be tricky. While there are several factors that will bar you from pursuing a Patent if you file too late, it is also possible to file too early. For this…
Read MoreLife After Patent Expiration
Wednesday | September 16, 2020By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationpatent expirationPatent ProtectionWhy can’t patents be renewed once they’ve lived out their 20 years? A patent becomes public domain (free for use by the public) upon its expiration, which is defined as 20 years from the patent’s earliest non-provisional filing date. MPEP…
Read MoreFiling Amendments under Articles 19 and 34 of the PCT
Wednesday | September 2, 2020By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationPatent Cooperation TreatyPatent ProtectionPCTPCT applicationInventors who file an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) have an opportunity to amend their application before moving onto filing national applications in participating countries. Articles 19 and 34 are the two provisions from the PCT that…
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