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California Patents (Intellectual Property) Questions & Answers
Q: How do you get a patent assigned to you (or a designee) an abandoned patent. I'm friends with one of the original Hillcr

est Husbands and their trademark expired and was abandoned for no response and I'd like to have it assigned to him. Serial Number

Word Mark

HILCREST HUSBANDS HE 602- Abandoned are To

Status Date

2012-06-01

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 22, 2023

To acquire an abandoned patent, you would need to confirm its abandonment status, reach out to the original inventors or assignees to negotiate an assignment agreement, file the necessary documents with the USPTO, and follow their procedures for patent assignment. Consulting with an intellectual... View More

Q: Davidsons Invent stole my invention and idea and then marketed it and has it on the back shelf at Home Depot can I sue ?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 12, 2023

As per California law, if you believe that your invention and idea have been stolen by Davidson's Invent and marketed without your consent, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit for intellectual property infringement. However, whether or not you have a valid case against Davidson's... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: If I'm applying for a patent for an improvement to wagering in online sports gambling

What constitutes significant and novel change?

How do I apply for these things without thinking a lawyer will steal my idea? Haha!

David Aldrich
David Aldrich
answered on Apr 10, 2023

Whether something is novel and nonobvious depends on the specific "prior art" that already exists. It is often helpful to conduct a "patentability search" before applying for a patent. This typically will involve a search (by a professional searcher) of what publications (such... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: If I want to change the basic media player, can I patent it or not?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 21, 2023

No, changing the basic media player does not qualify for a patent. Patents are only granted for inventions or innovations that meet certain criteria, including novelty, non-obviousness, and usefulness. In order to be eligible for a patent, an invention must be a new and useful process, machine,... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Let's say I've a patentable invention have to sell it to a market-dominant company. What an IP lawyer should I need for?

(2) How really to make sure of a lawyer's competence, committment, and area of expertise? (3) What should I expect as norm for a payment setting (a couple real instances, please)?

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Feb 24, 2023

A market dominant company is not likely to take you seriously until you have proceeded in the patent process until at least an Office Action noting some allowable claims. So I would be sure to file the application using some form of acceleration. Usually, that is a Track One fee and petition so... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: find patent lawyer who plays golf

I have patent idea re an improvement to manual golf carts Cl 280/1.5, need patent attorney who is a golfer to understand the subject

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2023

While it's understandable that you may want to work with a patent lawyer who is also a golfer to understand your patent idea, it's important to keep in mind that a lawyer's expertise and experience in patent law and the specific technology area of your invention may be more important... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Patents (Intellectual Property) and Trademark for California on
Q: I have a superhero who is a literal archangel would I still be infringing on Marvel's archangel?

They have the same name: archangel. They both superheroes. They have a similar look (human with wings... Like an angel). But that's it.

The story is radically different. Marvel's archangel is a mutant originally called angel until his wings are replaced by mechanical wings. That... View More

Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
answered on Jan 25, 2023

This is more of a trademark issue than copyright, unless the image of your character is identical to the Marvel character.

ARCHANGEL was a registered trademark of Marvel in 1994 for comic books, but that registration was cancelled in 2005 for failure to file a statement of continuing use....
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1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: can I file a New Use Patent if someone else has rights to the product?

I read this on this site under New Use Patents: a "second company" is awarded a new use patent.

Peter D. Mlynek
Peter D. Mlynek
answered on Jan 31, 2023

Yes, this is common. Inventor A gets a patent for an invention, and then inventor B files for an improvement to the invention. Inventor A cannot practice the improved version because inventor B has a patent on it, and Inventor A cannot practice either the original invention nor the improved... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Patent lawyer

Hello,

I’d like to get consultation with a lawyer concerning patents. I’m thinking of producing Pickleball balls with further sales. I’m interested if I can do that legally. What is mentioned in the patent? Do I need a license for producing the balls? Etc.

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Jan 11, 2023

In order to obtain a patent, you will need to show that your pickleball is not just different from the existing pickleballs but differs in a way that would be non-obvious to a non-creative expert in pickleball design.

In order to sell pickleballs, you need to be clear of all relevant...
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1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Hi - I'd like more information on this patent: Patent number: 8633982

Is this a 20 year patent? How close to the design could a competitor come without violating the patented protection?

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Dec 3, 2022

Google patents lists the expiration date of October 9, 2031 (assumes payment of all maintenance fees).

There are three independent claims. In order to infringe the claims, you need to do what is either literally in claim 1, 8, or 14 or be covered by the slight expansion of scope afforded...
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2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Can you file a patent of a structure built from Bamboo?

A teepee for example

Stephen E. Zweig
Stephen E. Zweig pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Nov 3, 2022

It depends on the structure. The USPTO will not give you much if any credit for teaching Bamboo. They also won't give you much if any credit for teaching a known structure such as a teepee. However if you come up with a non-obvious and original structure, or some non-obvious way of altering or... View More

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Q: How would copyright or patent for musical equipment work internationally?

Let us say that Country XYZ has no such thing as copyright infringement and they make musical gear

with preexisting recordings from other companies, and it is perfectly legal in that country.

If a musician in the USA, where it would not be legal to use preexisting recordings from... View More

David Luther Woodward
David Luther Woodward
answered on Oct 23, 2022

What you propose sounds a lot like copyright infringement. I don't understand your terminology--like what do you mean by "gear". An instrument, to me, is a horn, a guitar, a piano, etc., not something that reproduces pre-recorded data.

2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: What would be the cost to have a lawyer file an “Ex parte reexamination” on a patent on our behalf?

We have found a US utility patent that should be invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 102 (b), because the exact product on there was being publicly sold and marketed online for more than one year before the patent filing date. We have collected extensive evidence and are looking for a IP lawyer to writeup... View More

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Sep 12, 2022

Some challenges post-grant have limits on the type of challenge. An ex parte reexamination under 35 USC 302 is limited to challenges based on prior patents and printed publications. Other forms of challenge address an on-sale bar. Often if a product is on sale, there are user manuals, white... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Has the lid protector for paint cans been patented as described in the write to the ledt?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 8, 2022

You can usually find a list of patents on the U.S. patent and trademark office website.

Q: WHAT IF I SOMEONE HAS STOLEN MY SCHOOL PROJECTS FROM "96-09" AND HAS FILED AND OBTAINED PATENTS ACCORDINGLY?

ITS PRETTY DEEP. FROM BLUETOOTH TECH, AUDIO CONVERSIONS, AND BLOCKHAIN IN RELATIONSHIP TO DNA.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 8, 2022

You still have copyright protection. You may not have patent protection depending on more factual circumstances of your case.

1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: I would like to patent a product idea and need help moving forward with that. Is the product patentable etc.

Is the product patentable, how do I move forward if it is and what the cost is.

I have no problem paying a lawyer to do so if the product is patentable and

will pay a fee to know if it is patentable.

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Aug 18, 2022

It is near impossible to "know" that something is patentable as the world is a big place and any reasonable prior art search is not going to check every obscure article in every language. (Prior art includes anything written since the beginning of recorded history in all languages that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: How do I get my name attached to an existing patent?

I see a patent was granted to members of my team and I was not included as I left the company before the application was filed. I have documentation (lots) to back up my argument to be included on this patent.

Peter D. Mlynek
Peter D. Mlynek
answered on Jul 31, 2022

This is a very common problem. I presume that you want to have your name on the patent as one of the co-inventors so that you can put it on your resume/CV, and not get an ownership stake in the patent.

If you really have a good argument to be listed as a co-inventor, reach out to the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: If a patent assignee is the company what rights do the inventors have?

If one of the inventors passed away before the patent was complete would his/her spouse get the benifits for the patent. Also how could I find out if an agreement was signed between the inventors and the company?

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Jun 20, 2022

If the inventor/employee assigned rights (or was under an obligation to do so), then the rights will be in the employer/company. This is the normal way of the world. I paid a builder to build my house. The builder built the house but as I paid him to do so, I own the house even though I did not... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: If a company is using a patent I am named as an inventor, can I receive compensation for its use?

A large company is using my patent in their highly successful product without any request for my approval or agreement to compensate myself or the other inventors. Would it be possible to ask for retro active payments for the previous life of said product, or sue them for patent infringement?

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on May 23, 2022

Were you employed by this large company when you made the invention? Did you sign paperwork to assign the rights to the invention over to the large company or to some other company which may have passed rights or licensed the large company?

Inventorship and ownership are different things....
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1 Answer | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Trademark for California on
Q: Do I need a patent if i'm building an app in a new space that doesnt't exist yet?

I'm building an app in an industry that hasnt changed in ages and I want to know if i might need an IP attorney to help file a patent? I realize that i'm being extremely broad but i'm trying to figure where to start. I researched some companies who filed patents like AirBnB,... View More

Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Apr 25, 2022

If you are devoting a substantial amount of time or money into this project, then it is a good use of your time to talk with a patent attorney that files patent applications for apps. There are special obstacles in seeking patents in that space so you need some frank advice from someone that has... View More

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