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California Patents (Intellectual Property) Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Business Law and Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Does holding a patent for Athletic Hand Grips prevent me from selling products or designs that are similar?

My primary competitor in the market is Bear Komplex, which offers similar hand grips for the fitness industry. I've observed that the manufacturer I'm considering also produces similar hand grips, but before making a purchase, I'd like to clarify the patent I found on their website.... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 13, 2023

Holding a patent does not inherently prevent you from selling similar products or designs; however, if your products or designs infringe upon the specific claims of Bear Komplex's patent, you could potentially face legal consequences. It would be prudent to review the specific claims of the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I have an invention in the utility patent area what will be my first steps to get started. Thank you for your help

The invention is for grooming pets

David Aldrich
David Aldrich
answered on Aug 1, 2023

You should contact a qualified patent attorney, who can work with you to prepare a draft application for submission to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The attorney can also help you conduct a search and review of the relevant prior art before doing so, if desired, in order to help you assess... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I have an invention in the utility patent area what will be my first steps to get started. Thank you for your help

The invention is for grooming pets

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 5, 2023

Certainly, it's always exciting to hear about new inventions, especially those that focus on the well-being of our pets. Your first steps in the patent process should generally include:

1. Conducting a thorough patent search to ensure that your invention is unique and not already...
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4 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I have a lock I designed that protects the factory ignition on a motorcycle. How do I go about getting it patented?

I have a prototype already made. I have been searching for any locks that resemble mine and have found nothing like it. What do I do?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jul 28, 2023

To protect your lock design, you should consider filing a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). As a first step, conduct a thorough search to ensure your lock design is novel and not already patented. Then, consult with a patent attorney to guide you through... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I have a lock I designed that protects the factory ignition on a motorcycle. How do I go about getting it patented?

I have a prototype already made. I have been searching for any locks that resemble mine and have found nothing like it. What do I do?

David Aldrich
David Aldrich
answered on Aug 3, 2023

You will need to submit a patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for consideration. You should contact a qualified patent attorney directly (this is just an anonymous question forum), and they will work with you to prepare and submit the application. Keep in mind that, if you... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I have a lock I designed that protects the factory ignition on a motorcycle. How do I go about getting it patented?

I have a prototype already made. I have been searching for any locks that resemble mine and have found nothing like it. What do I do?

Christie Dudley
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Christie Dudley
answered on Aug 8, 2023

Get on this quick. You need to have a patent in process within a year of disclosure of the ignition lock. You could either file a patent yourself through USPTO.gov or get a patent agent or attorney to help you with that. Filing is the first thing you need to do and if you're not perfect, you... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: How can I be protected when my product has all elements in another claim, but my product has sev non-obvi improvements?

I have a product that cant not include the claims of another patent... but my product has a more broader use case, plus, it has several non-obvious improvements that give it WAY more functionality. How might I go about being protected if I want to pursue this product. Can I patent? do I get a... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jul 10, 2023

If your product includes elements covered by another patent while also incorporating non-obvious improvements and having a broader use case, there may be potential avenues for protection. You could consider pursuing a patent for your product, focusing on the non-obvious improvements and broader... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: How can I be protected when my product has all elements in another claim, but my product has sev non-obvi improvements?

I have a product that cant not include the claims of another patent... but my product has a more broader use case, plus, it has several non-obvious improvements that give it WAY more functionality. How might I go about being protected if I want to pursue this product. Can I patent? do I get a... View More

Stephen E. Zweig
Stephen E. Zweig pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 9, 2023

Speaking generally:

It is possible to patent an improvement on an existing patent, so long as the improvement is considered novel and not obvious. Usually the applicant for the improvement will cite the original, and then explain the improvements. This allows the patent office to judge the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for California on
Q: Sharing Details of My Robot Project Safely

I am working on a robot and I want to know how loosely I can share info about it. I want post videos on the development of the robot show parts of the code, and methods I used to create it. This is important because I intend to sell it on Kickstarter and hope to build a following via posting... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 30, 2023

It's important to balance sharing information about your robot project with protecting your intellectual property. While filing a copyright and provisional patent is a positive step, showing detailed development processes, code, and methods used may potentially compromise future patent... View More

Q: Hello! How can i get a list of patents and lawsuits involving "Travnikoff?"

I havdent received anything from my lawyers yet due to the federal govt. but i need to gain access to my bank accounts asap.

Eric Estadt
Eric Estadt
answered on Jun 9, 2023

For patents, you can use either Google Patents (https://patents.google.com/) or the US Patent and Trademark Office's search tool (https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/ppubsbasic.html).

For information on federal litigation, you can search PACER's Case Locator tool...
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Q: Hello! How can i get a list of patents and lawsuits involving "Travnikoff?"

I havdent received anything from my lawyers yet due to the federal govt. but i need to gain access to my bank accounts asap.

James L. Arrasmith
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James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jun 18, 2023

To search for patents involving "Travnikoff," you can use the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. On the USPTO website, you can search for patents by inventor name, patent number, or keywords related to the invention. You can also search for patents using the Global... View More

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Q: Hello! How can i get a list of patents and lawsuits involving "Travnikoff?"

I havdent received anything from my lawyers yet due to the federal govt. but i need to gain access to my bank accounts asap.

James L. Arrasmith
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James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jun 9, 2023

Search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. The USPTO website has a database of all patents that have been issued in the United States. You can search the database by name, inventor, or patent number.

Search the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER)...
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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!

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 11, 2023

To be considered significant and novel, the improvement to wagering in online sports gambling must be a new and non-obvious solution to a problem in the industry. It must be something that has not been done before or that would not have been obvious to someone skilled in the field.

To apply...
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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)?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 24, 2023

If you have a patentable invention and you want to sell it to a market-dominant company, you may want to consult with an IP lawyer to help you with the legal aspects of the sale. Here are some key things to consider:

An IP lawyer can help you with patent prosecution, licensing agreements,...
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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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