Preparing and filing patent applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is referred to as “patent prosecution.” The registered Denver patent attorneys at Thomas P. Howard, LLC are extremely experienced ex-patent examiners from the Patent and Trademark Office. They understand every step of this procedure and will work with you to secure the broadest possible protection for your invention. As a result of their extensive experience both working at the United States Patent and Trademark Office and prosecuting patents for clients, our attorneys know how to write effective patent claims.
Patents can provide a significant competitive advantage to a business. Utility patents protect the functional aspects of an invention, while design patents protect the aesthetic look of a new product. Both types of patents will give the owner the right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing what is claimed in the patent.
It is important to consult with a patent attorney early in the development and commercialization of your invention. You may be barred from obtaining a U.S. patent is a patent application is not filed within one year of a public disclosure or offering an embodiment of the invention for sale in the United States. Moreover, most countries other than the United States do not allow a one-year grace period, and follow an absolute novelty requirement instead. Disclosures made at trade shows, presented at conferences, or posted on websites can bar a patent on an invention so disclosed.
Patent strategy is important. We will work closely with you to learn about your invention and determine the viability of pursuing a patent for you as well as whether a patent makes sense in view of the expected scope of protection. Other forms of IP protection such as protecting the innovation as a trade secret may be appropriate depending on the circumstances.
Call Thomas P. Howard, LLC at (303) 665-9845 for a free consultation regarding the prosecution of a patent on your behalf.