What are Patents?
Patents protect inventions and prevent anyone but the owner or licensee of the patent from making, selling, using, or importing the invention for a period of time. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants patents for inventions that meet statutory criteria, including that the invention is novel, non-obvious patentable subject matter.
Frequently sought after by Fortune 500 companies and start-ups alike, a patent can protect an invention from being copied and gives the inventor an advantage in the marketplace, as well as making the invention more attractive to prospective investors. A robust patent portfolio can greatly increase the value of a company.
There are three different types of patents:
- Utility Patents – These patents can be both provisional and non-provisional and typically provide protection for new machines (both simple and complex), chemical compositions, and processes.
- Design Patents – These patents protect the unique appearance or design of manufactured objects, for example the ornamental aspect of a lightbulb design.
- Plant Patents – These patents protect asexual reproduction of new and distinct plant varieties, including hybrids.
We assist individual inventors and businesses in obtaining patent protection in many different technologies in both the United States and overseas, and assist clients in negotiating patent licensing agreements.
Our patent protection services include:
- Maintenance and enforcement of patent portfolios
- Preparation and prosecution of patent applications
- Filing PCT patent applications
- Drafting patent license agreements
- Patent Filing
- Patent litigation
- Patent transactions
- Patentability Searches
- Infringement opinions
For more information on patents, please refer to the Patents FAQ.
Widerman Malek also offers a proprietary system called ProPhase which delivers fast, high quality, low-cost filing of national entry applications. ProPhase leverages technology to reduce your time and effort in filing national entry applications into the U.S. while providing a high-quality product at lower cost. Click to file PCT patent applications.
Contact us at 321-255-2332 and speak to an attorney now about your patent.
