In the last few posts, I discussed how to interpret “means plus function” clauses and have gone into great depth analyzing the U.S. 6,289,319 Patent issued to Lockwood as an example. In this post, I will, at long last, finalize my analysis of the first “means-plus-function” claim element of U.S. 6,289,319 Patent. Recall from previous […]
A patent is a bargain an inventor makes with the government. The inventor increases public knowledge by disclosing the invention. In return, if the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) believes that invention meets the statutory requirements, the inventor receives a monopoly as defined by the claims of the patent. Thus, patents may be thought […]
Many companies or inventors unknowingly engage in activities which essentially forfeit their right to file for U.S. and international patents. Patent attorneys call these activities “statutory patent bars” because the patent statute lists several activities which will “bar” an inventor or company from obtaining a patent. The Good Old Days: Before 2013, U.S. patent law […]
Yesterday, the House passed the “Defend Trade Secrets Act” (“DTSA”) by a 410-2 vote. Previously, the DTSA passed the senate. So, now the DTSA is headed to President Obama who is expected to sign it. The law is designed to go into effect on the date of its enactment. The DTSA amends the Economic Espionage […]
Non-Disclosure Agreements (“NDAs”) or Confidentiality Agreements are probably the most overused and abused of all commercial contracts. Businessmen and engineers often sign NDAs and then freely disclose business plans, trade secrets, and ideas to patent to potential “business partners” because they believe they are fully protected by the NDA. However, NDAs vary widely in the […]
For those interested in single short book explaining the patent process and what it means to own a patent, “A Simplified Guide to the Patents” is now available in ebook form on Amazon. The link to the book is here. This book is intended for entrepreneurs, small business owners, general practice lawyers, investors, and others […]
In my last two posts, I discussed cost considerations for obtaining a United States patent. However, I did not discuss prices and I know that most readers of this blog would like to see “ball park” estimates. First, it is essential to understand that with patent applications you will always “get what you pay for” […]
This is a difficult question to answer for a variety of reasons. First, patent costs vary based on differences in technology. Second, patent costs vary due to the intended use of the patent and the client’s requirements. By way of background, patents are not like copyrights or trademarks in that if you are the first […]
The Supreme Court reverses the Federal Circuit’s Indefiniteness Standard in a decision likely to negatively impact patent owners. As many know who have been involved in patent litigation, it is often impossible to determine claim meaning in some patents. This uncertainty makes patent claim construction extremely difficult – both for the lawyer advising a client […]
At the risk of over simplification, most companies employ one or more of four quality “levels” patents. Often companies will have patents from a mixture of the levels below. Sometimes, this mixture occurs as a result of design and prioritization. Sometimes, it occurs as the result of political influence within the company or other factors. […]