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SBIR/STTR Fall Conference
Austin, Texas
Anthony Knight
Assoc. Comm. Innov. Devel.
November 13, 2014
Patents - Before you Begin!
• Do your homework
– Make a thorough search
– Understand what you want to protect
– Create a business plan
• Keep a notebook
• Read as many patents as possible
• Know types of patent applications
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Congress shall have the power …
to regulate commerce with foreign
nations, and among the several states, and
with Indian tribes. U.S.
Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 3.
to promote the progress of science and
useful arts, by securing for limited times to
authors and inventors the exclusive right to
their respective writings and discoveries.
U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 8.
Constitutional
Language
What is a Trademark?
• Any word, name, symbol or device (or any
combination thereof) used to identify and
distinguish goods and services and to
indicate their source (15 U.S.C. § 1127)
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Trademarks
Trademarks
typically protect brand names and logos used on goods and services
identify the source of the goods or services
registration (®) can last indefinitely as long as maintenance documents are filed and mark does not become generic
Term of Registration
10-year term with 10-year renewal terms
Patent Fundamentals
• U.S. system is quid
pro quo
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The inventor discloses the
invention to the government in
specific terms
The government grants exclusive
rights to the inventor
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Types of Patents
• Utility
New and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof
• Design
Any new, original and ornamental design
• Plant
Whoever invents or discovers and asexually produces any distinct and new variety of plant...
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What Type of Application?
• Provisional - one year period, no claims
required, written disclosure must meet same
requirements as non-provisional, not allowed
for design.
• Non-Provisional - claims required, written
disclosure must meet requirements of 35
USC 112 1st paragraph. Examined for
patentability, can result in a patent.
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Pitfalls of Provisional
Applications
must file a non-provisional within 1 year
of filing date to keep date
might affect foreign filing
may not give full coverage for regular
application
attorney cost almost equal to non-
provisional
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Pitfalls of patents!
• A patent does not assure that the
patentee can practice the invention
during the entire patent term.
• There may be a dominant, or
“background,” patent owned by another,
which must be honored, until that patent
expires.
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Who can get a patent?
• The first inventor to file a complete application
is entitled to a patent, provided the invention
was not copied from another.
• Effective date of change was March 16, 2013.
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Allowance & Issue of Patents
• Term
• Utility, Design and Plant
• Maintenance of Patent
• Patent Marking & “Patent Pending”
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Is the patent good
everywhere?
• Each country has its own patent
laws
• U.S. patents only effective in the U.S.
• What is done here may affect rights
elsewhere and vice versa
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Trade Secrets
• How is this different from Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights?
• What constitutes a trade secret?
• How can we determine a trade secret?
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Trade Secrets
• Trade secrets - based on contracts -
may offer protection indefinitely
• Is it better to patent or keep a trade
secret?
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Coca Cola; KFC
Trade Secrets
• Any information that derives economic value from not being generally known or ascertainable
• Can be formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques or processes
• Protection stems from common law dating to the 1800’s
• All states have some sort of trade secret protection
• Most laws based on the Uniform Trade Secrets Act
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Copyright
COPYRIGHT - Library of Congress
– Protects “original works of authorship” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and certain other intellectual works.
– Term - Author’s life + 70 years
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Useful USPTO Programs
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IP Awareness Tool
• Assesses intellectual property knowledge
• Provides personalized training resources for small businesses and inventors
• www.uspto.gov/inventors/assessment
Inventors Resources
• Wide variety of
resources to help the
independent inventor
• FAQs, Online Chat
Transcripts, events,
and more
• www.uspto.gov/invent
ors
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Inventors Eye
THE END