Intellectual property refers to certain types non-tangible assets of a person or company. These types of intellectual property include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. When appropriate, companies and individuals secure one or more of these types of intellectual property to protect their business interests.
In the U.S., there are three different kinds of patents: utility patents, design patents, and plant patents. Utility patents protect new and useful inventions, design patents protect non-functional novel parts of product designs, and plant patents protect new varieties of plants.
Trademarks protect the names, slogans, and logos used by businesses to sell their products and services. Trademarks protect the appearance and other features of products (referred to collectively as “trade dress”).
Copyrights cover original works of authorship, such as written works like books and scripts, music including both musical compositions as well as their recorded performances, video recordings like movies and television shows, artwork including paintings and sculptures, computer programs, and even clothing and jewelry.
Trade secrets refer to information that people and companies want to keep confidential. In addition to computer software, secret recipes, and manufacturing techniques, trade secrets can also include client lists, price lists, and business strategies.
While companies are often actively involved in developing and marketing new products and services, applying for patents and trademarks to protect their businesses is one area in which it’s recommended to seek legal help. In fact, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recommends getting professional guidance throughout the patent and trademark purchasing processes. Applications for patents and trademarks require technical language and an in-depth knowledge of patent and trademark law. After patent issuance and trademark registration, you may encounter additional legal needs, including help with post-grant reviews and challenges. These are services that our firm is highly qualified to provide.
To best aid our client base, attorneys and staff members at our firm are proficient in a wide variety of foreign languages including Chinese, Dutch, German, Japanese, and Russian. All of our attorneys are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, co-owner Kevin Dunleavy is a registered European patent attorney with the European Patent Office. These qualifications allow our firm to confidently represent domestic clients as well as clients located in many different countries, in the prosecution of both U.S. and European patent and trademark applications.
Our experienced, qualified attorneys are respected experts in their fields. They have written textbooks and peer-reviewed papers, taught instructional courses, presented lectures, and led conferences and workshops.
We strive to provide our clients with the most cost-effective solution. We offer flexible billing, with options for both hourly and fixed-fee arrangements.
Contact us to learn more about what our firm can do for you.