Overview of US Classification and Sub-classifications It is also important to realize that over time classifications and sub-classifications are created, deleted or merged. The result of this is that sometimes scores of patents have their classification changed. Although all similar types of patents should have similar classifications and be grouped together, they may not [...]
Before investing large amount of money and resources, it’s the right time to think, if the invention is unique, determine if there is a market for it, explore how to make it better. Inventors should do a search online, with a goal of finding two or three competitive products. If they are scared to [...]
Crocs had a design U.S. Patent No. D517789; rejected by USPTO as it failed to attend the re-examination of the appeal and hence loses its inter partes patent registration and has to wait until September 11, 2017 for Patent Examiner’s Decision for its new approval or new registration for new application. What are design patents [...]
What is a patent search? A patent search is a search of issued patents and published patent applications for inventions that might be considered important “prior art” references when applying for a patent. The prior art is anything in the public domain, patented or not patented, that may determine whether an invention is novel [...]
A patent (prior art) search is a process of identifying granted patents and published patent applications (collectively referred to as patent documents) that bear similarity to the subject matter which is of interest to you. A patent search is most often the first step in achieving different objectives, some of which are: • Determining [...]
One of the most frequent questions I get asked by inventors and businesses is about how much it will cost to obtain a utility patent in the US. Estimating US patent costs is a difficult matter because so much depends on the technology involved, but answering “it depends” is not particularly insightful or helpful. [...]
