Get free answers to your Patents (Intellectual Property) legal questions from lawyers in your area.
During my 14+ year marriage, my ex-husband created patents, some personally and some as part of our business, which were not disclosed during our divorce finalized in 2017. These patents, now under his name, are believed to be generating significant revenue. My ex-husband refuses to communicate... View More

answered on Mar 26, 2025
Patents created during the marriage—whether individually or as part of a shared business—are typically considered community property and subject to division upon divorce, even if not disclosed initially. Because these patents and associated revenues were undisclosed during your 2017 divorce... View More
During my 14+ year marriage, my ex-husband created patents, some personally and some as part of our business, which were not disclosed during our divorce finalized in 2017. These patents, now under his name, are believed to be generating significant revenue. My ex-husband refuses to communicate... View More

answered on Mar 26, 2025
You could file a request for adjudication of omitted assets. These types of motions are filed when an asset (or debt) was not disclosed during the divorce proceedings and is not divided or mentioned in your final divorce decree.
I am interested in commercially producing a generic nasal spray containing xylitol and iodine. However, I am concerned about potential patent infringement issues regarding products by Xlear. They have four patents; two have expired, and two are still active. Can these active patents prevent me from... View More

answered on Mar 12, 2025
If you want to make a generic nasal spray that contains a mixture of xylitol and iodine, then it looks like you are fine.
With regards to US 8,709,508, all of the claims require the claimed composition to contain two ingredients:
(a) xylitol or xylose, and
(b) any of the... View More
I have a copyright and patent related to an apnea device in both Europe and the US. I live in Spain and was previously sued in Europe for copyright infringement, where the opposing party demanded a percentage of my sales. We were able to prove that our device is not the same as theirs, and we won... View More

answered on Mar 12, 2025
You might hope that the doctrine of res judicata would be helpful (https://jusmundi.com/en/document/publication/en-res-judicata). Sadly it is not necessarily recognized or applicable between different countries. Especially where you are dealing with explicitly national rights like patents and... View More
It’s a common fishing lure. He didn’t add anything special to the lure

answered on Dec 6, 2024
I don't know which patent or lure you are speaking of, but occasionally the patent examiner will make a mistake and register a patent which is obvious or not novel. There is a procedure at the USPTO to contest a registered patent if you can provide documentation (aka, prior art) that was not... View More
I have a concept for a sandal that I'm trying to get made. I was researching patents, and I don't know if my specific ideas has been made and patented or not.

answered on Aug 5, 2024
The best way to determine prior patent status of a product is to engage with a patent professional to engage in a freedom to operate search. Prior to that step though, to determine if your product has been patented by someone else, consider the following:
First, understand that patents... View More
I have the meetings I had with them recorded and have emails and the app proposal they sent me.

answered on Jun 19, 2024
Based on the information provided, it sounds like you may have a potential case for intellectual property infringement, even without a patent. Here are a few key considerations:
1. Copyright: While ideas themselves are not protected by copyright, the specific expression of an idea (such as... View More
I'm interested in if or where xx 4 patents are being used?

answered on Jun 16, 2024
To determine if a specific patent is being used, you can follow these steps:
1. Search for the patent: Use the inventor's name (Louis E Swinney) and the patent numbers (if known) to search for the patents on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website or Google... View More
102016015728 October 2017 DE
2916045
Other references
Translation of International Search Report for Application No. PCT/EP2021/053075 dated Apr. 16, 2021 (2 pages).
Patent History
Patent number: 11920679
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 9, 2021... View More

answered on May 8, 2024
It appears that you have filed a patent application on your own and have received an Official Action that rejects some or all of your claims.
As a matter of statistics, inventors in this situation cannot get meaningful protection without the help of a patent attorney. However, I have no... View More
My friend who passed away had a Patton and trademark that some people have made up fake marriage and other recorded doc to steal his legacy?

answered on Apr 4, 2024
In California, if you suspect fraudulent activities concerning a person's legacy, including patents and trademarks, it's crucial to address the matter with urgency due to the potential legal implications and the risk of significant financial loss. You can reach out to an intellectual... View More
My employer has, on several occasions, had me sign paperwork to assign ownership of patents for products I have worked on to the company. Which is fine, I agreed to as much when I accepted the job. These documents include four declarations, the first three of which involve reviewing and confirming... View More

answered on Apr 1, 2024
Based on the information you've provided, there are a few important considerations:
1. Legal implications: Signing a declaration without having seen the patent application could potentially expose you to legal risks, especially if the declaration includes statements confirming aspects... View More
If there are multiple companies producing a product currently and all I can really find is abandoned status patents is it free and clear? What if other companies are claiming patented on websites but I can not find??

answered on Mar 13, 2024
In the United States, including California, if a patent is listed as "abandoned," it means that the patent application process was not completed, or the patent holder failed to pay the required maintenance fees. As a result, the invention is no longer protected by patent rights and enters... View More

answered on Mar 8, 2024
In California, as in many other jurisdictions, using the technology behind a product like the VertiMax machine, specifically the pulley system, and constructing it in a different way requires careful consideration of patent laws. If the technology or any of its critical components are patented,... View More
I am a patent holder and inventor of a novel intelligent edge computing solution that Intel may be interested. This patent, “Classification System”, USPN 11144748, issued 10/12/2021, describes a scalable, low-power, and real-time solution that can perform machine learning functions such as... View More

answered on Feb 29, 2024
To approach Intel with your patented technology, it's advisable to start by visiting Intel's official website. Look for sections dedicated to innovation, partnerships, or technology licensing. These areas often provide guidance on how to submit proposals or inventions for consideration.... View More
"This application is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/821,555, filed Aug. 7, 2015, which is a non-provisional and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/035,412, filed Aug. 9, 2014, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated... View More

answered on Feb 21, 2024
Yes, your understanding is correct. Breaking this down:
- The application claims priority and benefit back to a provisional application filed on August 9, 2014.
- This establishes August 9, 2014 as the effective priority date for assessing patentability, including the novelty... View More

answered on Dec 12, 2023
To determine if there is an infringement on your patent "Mashcaps," a detailed comparison between the specifics of your patent and the product or method in question is necessary. Patents are legal documents that protect unique inventions or processes, and infringement occurs when another... View More

answered on Nov 26, 2023
To check if a product like an electric kettle is patented, especially when it's sold by two different companies, you can follow these steps:
Patent Number Search: If the product packaging or documentation mentions a patent number, you can use this to check the patent status. Patent... View More
I would like to find the patent for the Philips BHS736/00 straightener for academic research purposes. Could you advise on where to search for the patent or provide guidance on how to access such information?

answered on Feb 28, 2025
To find the patent for the Philips BHS736/00 straightener, begin by visiting publicly accessible patent databases. The most useful starting points are the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office's Espacenet, and Google Patents. These platforms offer free... View More
I recently discovered my late father's patent invention on your website. He passed away in 2022, and the patent's power of attorney has retired. The patent number is 5887787, and his name was xx. My stepmother has not filed probate, leaving my siblings and me unaware of how to proceed.... View More

answered on Feb 21, 2025
I understand you're seeking guidance about your father's patent rights - this must be a complex and emotional situation to navigate. Let me help provide some direction.
Your first step would be to confirm the patent's current status through the USPTO website using patent... View More
I have done research and see that there is a patent on something similar to what I have developed but with some major differences.

answered on Oct 22, 2024
I am not a patent attorney, but I don't believe patent attorneys provide a free consult to determine if an idea is in conflict with an existing one similar in nature. That would most likely be part of their legal services. That task could be very time consuming.
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