A provisional patent application is a USPTO filing that establishes an early priority date for your invention and gives you 12 months to file a nonprovisional patent application. It’s not examined and never becomes a patent by itself, but it can let you use “patent pending” while you refine the invention or seek funding. This […]
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A U.S. green card is proof of lawful permanent resident status, allowing you to live and work in the United States indefinitely. Most green cards must be renewed every 10 years (or every 2 years for conditional residents), though your permanent resident status can still be lost in certain situations. This article explains what a
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Naturalization is the legal process that lets an eligible non‑U.S. citizen become a U.S. citizen after meeting requirements like age, lawful permanent residence, continuous residence, good moral character, and passing an English/civics test. It’s typically completed by filing Form N‑400 with USCIS and attending biometrics, an interview, and an oath ceremony. This article explains the
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A licensing agreement is a written contract where a licensor grants a licensee permission to use specific intellectual property, typically in exchange for royalties or a flat fee. It defines scope, duration, territory, quality control, and termination to protect the owner’s rights. This article explains the basics of IP licensing, common terms, and how these
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A royalty is a contract-based payment—often a percentage of revenue or a fixed per-unit fee—paid to an owner for the right to use their intellectual property, natural resource, or asset. Royalties commonly apply to music, books, patents, trademarks, franchising, and oil and gas, and the rate and payment method depend on the agreement and industry.
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Prior art is any publicly available information—like patents, publications, products, or public use—that existed before a patent’s filing (or priority) date and can affect whether an invention is patentable. It’s used by the USPTO and courts to assess novelty and nonobviousness, and it can invalidate or limit patent claims. This article explains what counts as
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Patent infringement is the unauthorized making, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing of a patented invention, typically during a 20-year patent term. It can expose the infringer to injunctions and monetary damages if the patent’s claims are proven and infringement is shown. This article explains what infringement is, common examples, and how disputes are
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Trade dress is trademark protection for a product’s overall look and feel (including packaging and design) when consumers recognize it as coming from one source. It can cover colors, shapes, layouts, and other visual features if they are distinctive and nonfunctional. This article explains what trade dress is, what it protects, and how rights are
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The DMCA is a U.S. copyright law enacted in 1998 that sets rules for online copyright enforcement, including notice-and-takedown and platform safe harbor protections. It also prohibits bypassing digital rights management (DRM) in many situations. This article explains what the DMCA does, who it affects, and how takedowns work. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, commonly
A cease and desist for IP infringement is a written notice demanding a party stop unauthorized use of intellectual property or face legal action. It typically identifies the IP, describes the alleged infringement, and sets a deadline to comply. This article explains what these letters include, how to respond, and when to involve an IP
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