United States patent and trademark laws
The United States provides significant protections to inventors. Most significantly, the owner of a patent is granted the right to exclude other persons or businesses from using, making, selling or importing the invention without the patent holder’s permission. This is a very powerful form of intellectual property.
Protection is provided to inventors who apply for and receive a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Because of the protection provided by the patent and trademark laws, the application process can be complex and must comply with exacting standards.
One of the first standards that must be met is who must complete and file your application. Only an attorney registered with the Patent Office or the inventor can apply for a patent. When determining which patent attorney you would like to help, be sure to ask if they are registered with the Patent Office.
The office of Lawrence E. Evans, LLC will often prepare multiple drafts of a patent application. You, the inventor, have an intimate knowledge of your invention and the industry it applies to. For this reason, you are an important part of the application process. Each draft may be reviewed by you for technical aspects of your invention and its uses.
How we can help
Select a practice area from the list below to learn more about what Lawrence E. Evans can do for you:
Patent laws
Filing for a patent in the United States provides a great deal of protection to the inventor. The protection of U.S. patent laws, however, only exists within the borders. To be protected internationally, an inventor has two options:
- First the inventor can seek a patent in each country where he or she feels protection might be needed. This option can often be expensive and time-consuming. This option may also be more effective when an inventor believes protection is needed in only a few other countries.
- The second option is to file a Patent Cooperation Treaty application. This option allows an inventor to file an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office reserving patent rights in specific countries. This option can be less expensive when an inventor feels the need to have broad worldwide protection.
Either option should be made as a business decision by the inventor based on the cost and benefit of specific countries' protections.
Contact us
Larry Evans is experienced in the areas of trademark and patent law. Larry has significant experience negotiating patent laws both in the United States and internationally. His experience can help you receive the most protection available for your idea. If you have an idea that you think should be patented, contact Lawrence E. Evans, LLC for skilled legal guidance.
