answered on Jan 31, 2023
When the term of the patent or the copyright expires.
The idea of a patent is a contract between an inventor and the public, as represented by the government. The inventor discloses the invention, which is valuable to the public, to the society, and gets something in return. The inventor... Read more »
I am looking to sell a product that would require this. I would like to avoid getting in trouble because of someone's patent.
answered on Oct 20, 2022
That will require patent search of the US Patent and Trademark Office records by a patent attorney. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local patent attorney who can meet with you review your design and do a patent search to determine patentability or any issues of patent infringement.
I have multiple ideas/inventions and i don't know how to explain my ideas to investors to get funding without having a patent to protect my ideas. But I don't have the funding to pay for a lawyer and everything to get a patent. So what could I do to protect myself and my ideas while... Read more »
answered on Jul 31, 2022
This is one of the most frequently asked questions. You can't get funding without patents, and you can't get a patent without money. It is a Catch-22.
Here are some guidelines:
(1) You need to recognize that ideas by themselves are not protectable. If you have an idea... Read more »
answered on Jul 22, 2022
Pat2pdf is one source.
http://pat2pdf.org/patents/pat20220213198.pdf
I discovered and invented the method for the preparation of a nanocomposite when working as a postdoc at that institution, I have written a manuscript about the method when working there but I left the job, and I have the photocopy of all my experiment records about the method. I just noticed that... Read more »
answered on Jun 28, 2022
This is not a DIY thing. You will need to contact a patent attorney who will compare your manuscript with the issued patent. It is likely that the university had agreements in place where you would have had to assign your rights over to the university. They may or may not give you a cut of any... Read more »
My current employer is asking me to sign an updated restrictive covenant covering idea’s and patents.
I am concerned because, outside of my current employment. And outside of my current employers scope of business. I wish to pursue several patents.
The wording of this document... Read more »
answered on Jun 8, 2022
Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local intellectual property attorney who can review the document, your current activities regarding other patents, and then advise you accordingly of any changes to the document before you sign it.
the company has been drawing on her bank account monthly, for several years. How can she get her money back. The "invention" is not worthy of a patent and she should have been notified of that. She is living on government checks and unable to work. What can she do?
answered on Apr 20, 2022
This is not an isolated case. Many people of limited means are encouraged to file patent applications that are on a path to nowhere by invention promotion firms. The federal government is aware of these firms. You can file a complaint, and find other useful information via the links at this... Read more »
answered on Jan 24, 2022
I, along with others, am available. Reach out to a few of us.
When the trial court instructs the jury "before you can find the defendant guilty of murder under this theory you must find the defendant committed the offense of felonious assault, which is knowingly causing serious physical harm?"
answered on Apr 13, 2021
I do not know what happened but your question has been sent out to patent attorneys. Most patent attorney focus on helping businesses and inventors obtain patents and will not have the information you seek.
I suggest that you repost your question to go to criminal law attorneys.
I am writing a book where I would like to include interviews and stories from participants. I have a consent form written that clearly states that participants will not receive any type of compensation for their participation. If they sign this form (therefore agreeing to the terms in it,) would... Read more »
answered on Feb 2, 2021
You are asking two questions here. One is can they sue, and the other is will they win? A consent will not stop somebody from suing, and you would need to prove that they signed the consent to use the affirmative defense. If you are worried about it I would make it clear in a recorded interview to... Read more »
answered on Jan 29, 2021
No, a "4 million series" patent would be from the 1980s and probably expired years ago. Setting aside continuation applications and other theoretical considerations, U.S. Pat. No. 4728812 likely expired in the early to mid 2000's, assuming that its "maintenance fees" were... Read more »
If I design a device similar to Patent number: 9033760 but not a direct copy and is a DIY project. Where the purchaser receives 3d files to 3d print the pieces and assemble the system themselves.
answered on Sep 16, 2020
Let's assume that what you send in your files allows users to use 3D printers to create all the pieces needed to make what is in claim 1 of the cited patent.
1. An interchangeable, modular display system for miniature models used in wargaming, comprising:
a display panel... Read more »
I'd like to print and sell drawings from expired patents as art pieces. Is this legal?
answered on Sep 3, 2020
Drawings included in a published patent application are in the public domain, under long standing US law. In the unlikely event that a copyright notice is included on the patent drawing in the patent application, you should look twice. But, in most cases you can do whatever you want with... Read more »
I believe this patent is for a gear driven portal and the case is one machined piece the product I want to sell is chain driven and the case is made of multiple pieces welded together can I legally sell this
answered on Aug 21, 2020
A U.S. patent owner has the right to stop others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, or importing a product that infringes any claim of the patent. (Claims are the numbered paragraphs found at the end of the patent.)
The answer to your question would depend on whether any of the... Read more »
I live in Ohio and they live in California. Its for a non-profit and non-charitable, if thats a thing, foundation. It's to make changes, not money, for what people like her went through ex: wheel chair measurements and kidney failure sense birth
answered on Jul 2, 2020
No. You do not need their permission. A person's name cannot be copyrighted or trademarked.
They took two weeks and gave us the patent search results. They now want to give us some proposals for work with their company that they say includes possible design engineering, patent application, legal work with an attorney, marketing, etc.
We want to make sure this company and process... Read more »
answered on May 15, 2020
The phrase in your question " they say includes possible design engineering, patent application, legal work with an attorney, marketing, etc" concerns me. It sounds like a "package" of services most often offered by "invention submission" companies. Some may be... Read more »
answered on May 4, 2020
Yes, this is the type of an invention that you could get a patent on.
The problem is that it is not easy to get a patent on new compositions made from known ingredients. The reason for not being able to get a patent is usually because someone has already made that composition, or because... Read more »
answered on Jan 30, 2020
Well, the entire point of getting a patent is to make make money on it. There is something wrong if your father-in-law is not making money on his invention but other people are.
Your father-in-law should go see a patent litigator.
her mom and dad are in a custody battle and her father is upset that she doesn't want to be with him anymore so he wants to punish her by sending her to jail can he do that? without good reasoning?
answered on Nov 14, 2019
If she is deemed "unruly" and fails to follow the court-ordered custody, she could go to juvenile detention.
I worked for a company that had many non-disclosure agreements
answered on Oct 24, 2019
Hi. Good question. You have to do a prior art search. Not an easy thing to do, often containing two levels. First is a outsourced company doing the prior art search. Second, a patent attorney analyzing and providing opinions on the prior art.
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