Patterson Thuente IP Principal and registered patent attorney Brad Pedersen has authored a new article published yesterday in IP Watchdog — one of the world's leading intellectual property publications focusing on patents, innovation policy, trade secrets, copyrights...
Patent Law
How to File a Patent with Multiple Contributors
If you are an engineer or scientist, you are (hopefully) no stranger to filing patents. A patent is key to monetizing and protecting your company's intellectual property and the sole right to produce and distribute products that utilize your patented technology or...
Protecting a patent: not always a smooth ride
Preparing and filing an application for a patent is a vital step in protecting a business's intellectual property. In many cases, a properly prepared application is approved with few or no setbacks. However, issues can and do arise. For instance, even if the U.S....
Why you should say “no thank you” to a new USPTO pilot program
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) began on Feb. 1. a pilot program titled Deferred Subject Matter Eligibility Response — abbreviated as “DSMER.” The pilot program was set up in response to a March 2021 letter to the commissioner of the USPTO from...
The case for a patent lawyer to fill Breyer’s Supreme Court vacancy
Last week, Stephen Breyer, an associate justice on the Supreme Court of the United States, decided the time had come to hang up his robes. Breyer, appointed to the bench by President Bill Clinton in 1994, announced his retirement on Jan. 26 after more than 27 years...
Too distinctive to confuse?
A primary concern in an intellectual property dispute is that infringement will cause consumer confusion. This confusion can result in brand dilution, loss of profits and other costly damages. Thus, parties enforce intellectual property rights to ensure their brand,...
Should you patent your invention?
Developing a new product or service is exciting and potentially quite lucrative. And while not every invention will be as notorious as the light bulb or the latest technological breakthrough, it can still be wise to patent yours. That said, not everyone patents their...
Are you the target of a patent troll?
Patents can be highly valuable for businesses. However, for some unscrupulous parties, patents are a weapon they use to get money from legitimate companies. These are patent trolls, and if one targets your business, you should know how to respond. What does a patent...
Consider cross-licensing to protect your IP and business
We often discuss the numerous challenges that can arise when businesses want to protect their intellectual property. One common issue is mitigating the threat of infringement by securing trade secrets, patents and copyrights. But in some cases, the best way to resolve...
5 Key Steps For Protecting IP While Building A Brand
When you are embarking on a new business, are developing a new invention, or are building your brand as a writer, artist, or designer, your intellectual property is your most essential asset. It’s imperative to protect your IP early on. While navigating the world of...