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When an individual finds themselves languishing in the “patent pending” phase of the application process, they often ask, “why is this taking so long?” and “should I be concerned with the status of my application?” These are perfectly reasonable and important questions. The short answer is that you should not worry very much if you find yourself in the “patent pending” phase for several months or even years. Why? Because it is important to understand that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an extremely busy government agency tasked with analyzing thousands of patent and trademark applications each…

The Importance of Trademark Registration When you decide to start a business, one of the things you consider is how to distinguish your business from other businesses offering the same goods or services as you do. You come up with a name that customers can remember and build up enough goodwill so that you are the first business they think of when they want the goods or service that you provide. You might be feeling content with your setup until you hear that there is another business with a similar mark offering the same goods and services. Now, you’re in…

Understanding the Differences Between a Patent and a Trademark When it comes to intellectual property law, one of the most common (and important) questions people ask      is the difference between securing a patent and a trademark. The short answer is that a trademark can help protect your brand, while a patent will help protect your invention or innovation. Overview It is understandable to get confused about the differences between patents and trademarks since, at the end of the day, they are both intellectual property rights. Nevertheless, there are important differences that carry significant ramifications for the types of legal protections…

Securing a registered trademark carries an array of benefits for your business. For example, it can help promote your brand and provide important legal differentiation in the marketplace. In addition, a trademark can help protect your business from competitors and scammers trying to confuse customers with low-quality and knockoff goods and services. In many instances, a trademark is the best legal recourse available to business owners who want  to maintain the very elements that identify their company in the marketplace. Common Law Trademark You may be surprised to discover that a trademark is not created the day you receive approval…

Patent Portfolio Review If your business currently holds U.S. patents and you are interested in exploring the possibility of patenting other ideas and innovations, it may be worthwhile to invest in a patent portfolio review. Why? Because a portfolio review provides a valuable overview of your current patents, what sectors those patents are focused on, and how much you have invested in those patents. Let’s begin… What Exactly is a Patent Portfolio? A patent portfolio typically encompasses the sum of issued patents, patent applications, and development ideas affiliated with your business. What Exactly is a Portfolio Review? A patent portfolio…