Short stories of human inventions
Posts tagged United States Patent And Trademark Office
Protect Your Invention and Your Business Startup With a Patent
Many viable startups are based on brand new inventions or clever innovations on existing products. In order to successfully morph your invention into a legitimate business venture, it is critical that you protect your idea. The United States Patent and Trademark Office handles all patent issues, from applying for to enforcing the protections. The process takes a lot of time, in most cases at least a year, so plan ahead if your startup relies on your invention being patented prior to launch.Protecting your idea requires more than just hiring a lawyer to apply for a patent. The process requires that you keep an inventor’s log – a hard copy, bound notebook that chronicles the path you took to inventing your product. This log, which must be created as you go, is critical as it is the only evidence you have of the timeline of your invention. You will also need detailed drawings of your invention that show every part and aspect of your product. While you can file for a patent without these formal drawings, you will have to submit them once you are approved, so it
Medical Device Industry Patent Litigation Likely to Rise?
Can patent lawsuits in the medical device industry be forecast? Recent studies suggest that certain features of patent applications themselves tend to correlate with a higher chance that some patents will end up in court. Innovation is at the heart of the medical device industry. As with many industries, if you are not constantly working to bring new products and technology to the market, there is a good chance you will not survive. Companies that are successful, and that continue to survive, invest millions of dollars in research and development every year to create new or better products. Companies that are successful, and that continue to survive, invest millions of dollars in research and development every year to create new or better products. Not only are these companies investing in the development of new technology, they are also investing in the protection of their innovations through the patent system. In fact, for fiscal year 2006 the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reported a record of more than 440,000 patent applications filed, more than double the number of applications filed ten years ago.
Of course, with the record… More >>
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets Protect Your Invention!
February 9, 2010
by merlin
in General Topics
Patent numbers are issued sequentially, beginning with the number one. Patent number one was issued to Samuel Hopkins on July 31,1790. It took 75 years for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to issue patent number 1,000,000. Patent number 7,000,000 was issued February 14, 2006. It took only seven years for the USPTO to move from issuance of patent number 6,000,000 to 7,000,000.What does this mean? Simply, there is more creativity now that at any time in history. The old saw that “there is nothing new” is completely wrong. There has never been so many people and entities creating novel, unique products, technology and services, and so driven to commercialize these inventions. More patents and entrepreneurs attempting to market their products is indicative that there is more competition for successful placement.It is essential that entrepreneur’s protect their inventions. This is a form of insurance. To attempt to market an invention without covering the work with the shield of patent, trademark, copyright or trade secret protection indicates a frivolous approach that will not succeed. Investors, licensees, and investors demand the protection that these intellectual property products afford… More >>