You’ve come up with a great new idea and are thinking it might just be your next big thing. Now what?
Instead of sharing that idea via social media and risk having it ripped off, consider reaching out to a Denver patent attorney and asking them about the ins and outs of trademark law. Thanks to today’s technology it’s easier than ever to have access to patents, useful information about copyrights and the paperwork necessary to protect your brand. It’s also easier than ever for people to steal your work with you none the wiser. Before you commit to any one course of action, look below and brush up on trademark law in the United States.
You don’t want your next big thing to be your next big mistake.
Did You Know?
Here are a few things you might not know about trademark law. First off, not everything can be patented. That just opens the floodgates for all sorts of silly submissions that could leave a major impact on the way the country runs. The qualifications, however, are broad enough to encompass just about any original invention. The USPTO receives over 500,000 patent applications every year, ranging from bottle designs to original comics to everyday household products. Whether or not yours will see the light of day depends on a few things!
History Of Patent Law
Let’s take a look at the history of patent law and how we got to this point. The first patent law was introduced over 200 years ago in the United States, steadily evolving to encompass more broad definitions while still protecting intellectual property. A recent survey determined patents are strongly utilized across 12 different industries and some aren’t even able to function without copyright law supporting them every step of the way. To obtain a patent is to set yourself up for success when an entire world is hungry for free concepts and plenty of money. Your patent application will be your best idea yet.
Intellectual Property Practices
The international and national patent process is one of the most important things you can do for your brand. With a provisional patent application your invention, be it a type of food or welding equipment, will be protected for a period of twelve months. There will be what’s known as a ‘patent pending’ on your product throughout. If you haven’t filed for a regular patent in that period of time your provisional patent application will expire and leave your work unprotected. Across the 12 industries where patents are used successfully, 50% or more inventions have been found to meet the criteria for success.
Simple Patent Tips
There are a few things you should consider before applying for trademark law. The most important is obtaining the right kind of patent for your product. You have the utility patents and the design patents, both of which need to be analyzed to make sure you’re getting the absolute most out of your application. The former is used for the function of a product, while the latter is based entirely on visuals, such as logos. Depending on which one you choose the length of the copyright will be a little longer or a little shorter, though the general length of a new patent is 20 years from the filing date.
Finding A Patent Attorney
Still have questions? That’s where a patent attorney comes into play. To obtain a patent is to give yourself the best possible chance at seeing where your idea can go. This can mean starting a new business, making a little extra money on the side or just experimenting with a new skill you’ve developed. A patent attorney can walk you through the process and let you know of any details that could get in the way of you realizing your dream. They’ll also help you fill out paperwork and keep you up-to-date on the development of your application over the coming months.
Success is right around the corner. Reach out to a patent attorney in Colorado and get started on your next great thing.
