5 Vital Things to Consider Before Applying for a Patent

5 Vital Things to Consider Before Applying for a Patent

On the path from just an idea to inventing success, there are undoubtedly many pitfalls that can disturb our way. Sadly, one of the biggest pitfalls is incomplete knowledge. There are a lot of things that we as inventors should know. From the importance of patenting our invention to How to Apply for a Patent and understanding the role of patent protection are some obvious things with which we should be familiar. What follows, however, are the five things that inventors must know and understand when they intend to file a patent application.

Five Key Points to Consider When You File a Patent Application

  1. Comprehend ‘Why Are You Doing This?’: People often take patent filing as just a task related to their invention, and thus, go with the flow and apply for a patent. Well, it is not at all a good idea, you should always actively engage in the patent process after gathering complete information as, after all, it’s the matter of your invention’s protection. Comprehend what patents are for, how can they profit your business, what do you expect from them, etc. In general, you may want to file a patent application for several reasons. For instance, an issued patent grants you exclusive rights to stop infringers. Your patent application, whether it ends up with a granted patent or not, acts as a public prior art document that prevents others from filing a patent application for a similar thing in the future. A patent portfolio shows your seriousness about the protection of your IP and can boost your company’s reputation and prestige.
  2. Opt for Precise Filing Method: When it comes to the patent filing, you will find several approaches. Although it is a straightforward decision that you can easily make depending on your needs, gathering information regarding each method will be advantageous. You can opt for filing the non-provisional patent application, Provisional Patent Application, international patent application, PCT application, or Design Patent
  3. Prefer Working Under Supervision of Your Patent Attorney: Your patent lawyer do it for a living and strive to serve you with remarkable profits. Hence, he or she is a valuable asset in this whole Patent Process. Never hesitate to ask questions and clear your doubts. Besides, stay in touch throughout your application preparation process. Ensure that your attorney will prepare the final application based on your disclosure as it will make things go right and the procedure easier. The lawyers can’t read minds, and therefore, possibly need your help to explain everything in your application adequately. Ask your engineers and inventors to spend some time helping them. Don’t forget to make your attorney aware of what you consider to be the ‘inventive’ part of your invention and what differentiates it from the others’ already invented assets. Your lawyer assuredly knows that the application requires multiple details described precisely, and creates it in the same way. However, being careful and ensuring that everything goes correctly and politely on your part is also essential to avoid possible issues due to the use of stern language.
  4. Don’t Miss Out to Review the Draft Application: After preparation of the application when you are about to file it, you should review everything to ensure completeness and accuracy. Make sure that nothing important is missing, and the description describes every aspect of your invention such that all who go through it can understand the same. Moreover, emphasize substance more than style, i.e., though stylish and eye-catchy, yet if something seems weird, consult your attorney about it.
  5. Get Familiarized with Deadlines and Apt Timings: An experienced and knowledgeable solicitor is the best person to tell and explain these to you. Nevertheless, some imperative deadlines and timings as per the US Patent Law state that it’ll be in your best interest to apply for a patent before disclosing the invention to anyone. Furthermore, if you wish to prioritize your application officially at the USPTO, you have to do so on the day you apply, as it will not be possible later. Foreign and PCT patent applications need to be filed within a few months of the initial US patent application.

Conclusion

Although applying for a patent is a gratifying and proud process, it can be time-consuming and difficult. But if you stay updated with the day-to-day reforms surrounding the IP industry and consider the five points mentioned above, there will be no or hardly anything that prevents you from obtaining robust patent protection. Furthermore, stay confident to consult an Intellectual Property Law Firm or IP Attorney if you have any other query. Good Luck! For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

 

How Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents Differ?

Intellectual Property Rights

A common question whether Copyrights, Trademarks, and Patents are the same or different often hovers over our minds. The main difference between these three common forms of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is that they protect different assets. In today’s competitive era, clear information about copyright, trademark, and patent, and how these differ from each other is essential for protecting your business from infringement issues.

What is Copyright?

Copyright is a type of IP protection that includes the right to secure your original work, including content, images, and everything you put online, on paper, or elsewhere. Copyright encompasses the right to:

  • Reproduce the work,
  • Produce derivative works,
  • Distribute and advertise copies,
  • Represent and perform the work publicly.

Copyright Registration will bestow you with full control over how your assets are made available to others. To ensure complete protection of your copyright, you must register it with the government. Otherwise, you will be unable to sue people or companies for Copyright Infringement.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark refers to a word, symbol, phrase, or logo that recognizes and distinguishes the source of one product or service from others. Trademarks have goodwill associated with the products and services, which further helps the customers in finding their desired products.

Examples of some common trademarks are as follows:

  • Words such as Nike
  • Logos such as the swoosh
  • Slogans such as Just Do It

Apart from giving the ability to sue the unauthorized user, Trademark Protection empowers you to grant permission to others for using your Intellectual Property.

What is a Patent?

A patent is a limited duration IP right that safeguards your inventions by not allowing others to use them.

Patent Law encapsulates:

  • New and useful industrial processes,
  • Machines,
  • Manufactured products,
  • Chemical compositions,
  • Developments in assets.

A patent right gives you the complete authority to prevent others from using or selling your invention. All the responsibilities from implementing the patent law on discovering any infringement to bring the defendant in a lawsuit lie with you.

How Copyrights, Patents, and Trademarks are Different?

i) Assets Protected 

  1. Copyrights protect the original material of the owner, for example – books, images, blogs, etc.
  2. Trademarks secure words, symbols, or phrases that distinguish a company’s assets from others.
  3. Patents ensure the protection of inventions, including processes, manufactures, machines, compositions, and improvements.

ii) Requirements

  1. For attaining Copyright Protection, you should provide original and creative work.
  2. To get your Trademark Application registered, you need to ensure that the mark identifies the source of your product.
  3. While applying for a patent, you should make sure that your invention is new, non-obvious, and valuable.

iii) Terms of Protection

Terms of Protection for intellectual property rights are country-specific. For example, in India:

  1. Copyright rights are valid for the duration, including your (owner’s) life followed by sixty additional years.
  2. Trademark Protection extends for 10 years from the date of application.
  3. Patents last for 20 years.

iv) Rights Granted

  1. Copyrights grant the license to use, disseminate, and publicly display your copyrighted material.
  2. Trademark grants the license to prevent businesses or people from creating confusion because of using marks similar to an already existing trademark.
  3. Patents grant the license to prevent others from using, selling, or importing your invention.

Conclusion

Due to rapid technological advancements, not just the businesses are developing but also the issues like infringement and fraud are increasing. Hence, there is a dire need to protect your intellectual property, which is possible with proper knowledge regarding all types of IP. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com/

Offwhite Sues Virgil Abloh Alleging Trademark Infringement

registered trademark

OffWhite Productions LLC sued Virgil Abloh’s OffWhiteTM for infringing its trademark rights. The New York-based marketing and creative agency claimed that the defendant had hijacked its brand name.

The complaint filed on Sunday in Federal Court includes claims:

  • OffWhite Productions has been operating with its registered trademark since the late ’90s, whereas Abloh launched its Milan-based mark in 2012.
  • OffWhite had maintained a website named as “offwhitedesign.com” since July 2001 and operated a Twitter account with @offwhitedesign.

OffWhite Productions also accused the defendant of continuously applying for new trademarks, encompassing a logo that is “unmistakably similar” to one of its marks.

Besides the above claims, OffWhite Productions alleged the fashion agency saying that the defendant is “steamrolling its path for years by misusing its (OffWhite Productions’) present and past senior and superior rights, and putting a legal, branding, and commercial barricade in the expansion of OffWhite Productions’ business.”

OffWhite Productions claimed that the actions of using the same brand name by Virgil Abloh are creating confusion and hampering its competitive advantage. The plaintiff continued that the advanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices by OffWhiteTM to promote the infringing use of its trademark, along with its celebrity-outreach campaigns and public relations efforts; have displaced offwhitedesign.com (website) from top search results of Google.

Considering all these facts, OffWhite Productions formulated a set of claims including federal trademark infringement, common trademark dilution, and unfair competition. It is also looking forward to seeking monetary damages and stop OffWhiteTM from using any such logo or mark to prevent confusion in the consumer market. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com/