So I design and print custom sports cards myself and recently I have been getting a lot of interest in them. I understand Panini has the sole rights to create and sell NBA cards. Is there a way to sell the cards I create without infringing on Panini’s rights? I’ve heard altering existing... Read more »
There is not enough information here to answer this fully, but here are some areas of potential concern:
1) The NBA's rights to the trademarks of teams and their own marks
2) The Teams' rights to their own marks
3) Copyright rights to the photos you're using... Read more »
You can research this yourself at https://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/
Use different keywords to research your invention - you may find more than one class that makes sense.
Keep in mind that regardless of what class you think your invention comes under, the patent... Read more »
Which patent?
There have been a number of questions of this type. There is often confusion between two different concepts: inventorship and ownership.
An inventor is someone that made a non-obvious contribution to the project that ended up in at least one claim in the issued patent. The inventors are... Read more »
Usually not. But, the analysis is often more complex than a simple, "Yes" or "No" answer. There are numerous factors to consider.
and hurts people with it. whom can you file suit with if they are trying to not get caught using it but you know they are using it. If we find out who funds it to bring about harm then they deserve a law suit coming their way.
If someone creates a device, and patents that device, then he can keep others from making, using, selling, or offering for sale of that device.
The patent owner can keep almost anyone from using it, whether it is for a good use of an evil use. The patent owner can say, hey, I am going to... Read more »
Being that the question remains open, at this point, the best way to find out could be to contact several attorneys and ask about their fees. Combined with some online research, that should provide a reasonable ballpark. Good luck
Tim Akpinar
I used to work for a firm that defended the original Bell telephone patent court (long long before I was born). So I am well aware that improvements to a particular device such as a telephone may continue to come out for a hundred years or so. It is possible that your patent claims one set of... Read more »
If he was a resident of Puerto Rico and left a Will, it will need to be probated in Puerto Rico. If he left it to you some other way there may be other ways to deal with it.
Whether you infringe a pre-existing patent(s) with your product/method can likely be greater informed by completing a prior art search.
If you do not have a product and want to file a patent application based on your invention, a prior art search should still be completed.
If you... Read more »
It is handmade cat toy wand with wire and some attractive toy at the end.
Thank you in advance,
That is a tough question. You can hire an attorney to give you a good answer, but it will cost you much more money than you could ever make on the toy.
Here is a safer bet: if there is toy that has been around for the past 20 years or longer, then you should be safe from patent... Read more »
I want to know if I can prevent other vendors or manufacturers from replicating my idea .
I assume that you have designed some sort of a bottle or a container for holding nail polish, hair gel, mascara, body lotion, etc.
You have several options.
First, you should trademark the name of your product, and possibly the logo.
Second, you may want to get a design... Read more »
Even though you can't physically see air, it is composed of several components that it's created from such as nitrogen and oxygen.
You cannot claim something natural. It has to be manmade.
You can claim a machine or device that uses air. For instance, a hot air balloon.
I am dealing with an unscrupulous inventor who tries to sell his software patent. He tries to sell it with development done by a 3rd party. That 3rd party has already confirmed to me they are not interested in working on it, because the inventor is ineligible. Also, I was hired by the inventor to... Read more »
Once the patent issues or a patent application is published, then you should be able to see details in the assignment database at https://assignment.uspto.gov/patent/index.html#/patent/search . You will also be able to see the relevant information in Public PAIR once you know the application... Read more »
Is what an actual patent or just an application?
You may want to resubmit this question wither with a link or a document number.
....furthermore, while said idea has not been disclosed in public form, it turns out that the attorney/agent has accepted another client with the same inventive idea in process of being applied for - what is the attorneys legal obligation to 2nd client? Tell him that his idea has been... Read more »
Ideally, the process would not get that far. The attorney should ask each prospective client to say without disclosing anything proprietary what type of good or service have you improved? When the attorney learned that the second inventor was in the same space as the first client (possibly with... Read more »
let say if im taking a frame for glasses what it is a public design and im making it glow in the dark can i put a patent?
Sorry, but no. You will likely not be able to patent glow in the dark glasses, just by taking glasses and putting a glow in the dark paint on them. Putting a glow in the dark tape or paint on things to make those things glow in the dark pretty obvious; that is the whole point of having glow in... Read more »
I am in the process of making washable coloring poster, accidentally similar composition to this tablecloth patent. I am using 100% polyester fabric (instead of a blend like this tablecloth), and the same Polyurethane backing - will this violate the patent?
Purpose is very similar, but... Read more »
Your question did not include the patent number.
But here are some basic pointers.
1) Make sure that the patent of potential interest is still in force. It may have expired at the end of its full term. It may have lapsed early for failure to pay a maintenance fee.
2) Look... Read more »
As a person with curiosity, you should develop your skills using the free patent search tools. Some useful tips are in my slide set on patent searching that I provide to entrepreneurs. http://bit.ly/Patent_Searching. I hope this helps.
Kevin E Flynn
I plan on bringing it to GenCon in August, but I am concerned someone may use my mechanics and concept for their game. I'm also not sure whether to patent the game, copyright, trademark or start a DBA. What would be the next step?
Boardgames have traditionally been protected by copyrights and by trademarks.
This is good news for you, because it looks like the protection is going to be relatively cheap.
Good luck in Indianapolis!
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