Ideas. Owned.®
Minneapolis Intellectual Property Law Blog
Protecting IP in the aerospace industry
When it comes to aerospace design, every element of a product is critical – including the actual elements that designers and engineers use. For instance, turbine blades in a jet engine can be smaller than four inches and weigh less than an apple. And yet, their design...
Look before you leap
Foreign publication leads to patent invalidation It’s not easy out there for a patent owner. Even after a patent is granted, an owner can find the patent’s validity challenged if it hasn’t thoroughly searched for “prior art.” That’s what happened to one...
Dealing with trademark squatters
Imagine you are a business owner with a new product you are developing. You know how to make it, what it will cost and where you will sell it. Just about all that you have left to do is to name it and start working on marketing. Unfortunately, someone has already...
IP and social media: trademarks, hashtags and handles
If you are starting a business, prepare to leverage social media to at least some extent in the promotion of your company. Whether you make ads to run on Facebook or define your company's persona through clever tweets, social media provides unique and valuable...
Preparing for international trademark disputes
The protection of a trademark can be essential to the success of any company. That protection continues to be necessary as a business expands operations to other countries. However, legal complications can arise when it comes to protecting intellectual property...
Getting Priority Right
By Jay Erstling The European Patent Office Board of Appeal recently handed down a decision on the requirements for validly claiming the right of priority of a first-filed patent application. The decision, which upheld the ruling of the EPO Opposition Division to...
How long does the trademark process take?
Getting a product or service to market is a complicated process with many moving parts. Filing for trademark protection is one of those “parts” that ensures certain legal protections for the names and brand elements associated with your product or service. Securing...
4 things that should be part of your trade secret policy
Protecting trade secrets is typically an inexpensive and vague process. The approach can vary from business to business. However, one consistent element should be a solid trade secret policy. This policy directs the business and employees in terms of keeping trade...
Keeping trade secrets secure when your workforce is remote
Workplaces across Minnesota have been adjusting to the changing limitations presented by COVID-19. Some companies have closed down temporarily or permanently, while others have been able to make the transition to a fully remote workforce. While working remotely can...
4 ways to protect your product from counterfeiters
Maintaining product integrity and brand reputation is a top priority for companies - particularly companies that sell their products online. Counterfeit products that do not look or perform like the real thing adversely affect sales and standing in the marketplace....