Patent prosecution is the back-and-forth between an applicant’s attorney and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to get to a granted patent. Below is a summary of the application and prosecution stages. Filing the Application The process begins when a patent attorney prepares and files a patent application with the USPTO. This application describes the invention in detail …
When to Conduct an IP Audit: Considerations for Growing Businesses
An IP audit is a structured review of a company’s intellectual property assets and risk exposure. Growing companies may wait to conduct reviews of their intellectual property portfolios until something prompts it, such as a financing round, an acquisition offer, or a dispute with a competitor. By that point, the opportunity to address issues on favorable terms has often already …
When a Trademark License Becomes a Franchise: What Businesses Should Know
Trademark licensing is a powerful tool a business can use to grow its brand. But tucked inside what appears to be a straightforward licensing arrangement may be a legal landmine: the accidental franchise. If your business licenses its trademark to another party, you may already be exposed to significant legal liability without knowing it. The Hidden Risk in Trademark Licensing …
