Patent Law covers the rules for obtaining, enforcing, licensing, and challenging patents that protect new inventions and technologies. Topics include patent applications and prosecution, infringement disputes and litigation, validity issues (including prior art and obviousness), and strategies for protecting intellectual property rights.
Most startups can challenge a patent troll suit early by targeting the troll’s standing and demanding proof of patent ownership and enforcement rights—often forcing dismissal or a quick, cheaper settlement. Because many non-practicing entities sue through shell LLCs and incomplete assignments, they may lack the documentation needed to proceed. This article explains the standing-based “patent […]
“Patent pending” means a patent application has been filed with the USPTO (or another patent office) and is awaiting examination; it is not an issued patent. The phrase can deter copycats and preserve priority rights, but it does not grant the enforceable right to stop others until a patent is granted. This article explains what […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A patent is a government-granted property right that lets an inventor exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing an invention for up to 20 years from filing (utility). In exchange, the inventor publicly discloses how the invention works. This article explains patent basics, how patents work, and key types and requirements. A patent is […]
A utility patent is the most common type of U.S. patent, protecting new and useful inventions for up to 20 years from the filing date. It covers an invention’s functional aspects—how it works, what it does, and how it’s used. This article explains what utility patents cover, eligibility basics, and how they differ from other […]
A U.S. design patent protects a product’s ornamental appearance—not its function—for 15 years from grant. It can cover shape, configuration, surface ornamentation, and overall visual impression if the design is novel and non-obvious. This article explains what design patents cover, key requirements, and how they differ from utility patents. A design patent protects the unique […]
In the U.S., a utility patent generally protects an invention for up to 20 years from the earliest filing date. Patent laws grant exclusive rights to make, use, sell, or import the invention and provide remedies for infringement. This article explains patent types, filing and prosecution basics, and enforcement options. Understanding patent laws is crucial […]
