Patent

A patent is a declaration from a government that an invention or process is sufficiently new or innovative to be granted the exclusive ability to manufacture or otherwise use the invention for a set period of time. A patent is the broadest form of intellectual property protection, encompassing not only the precise machine or process invented, but also variant machines or processes that may employ the underlying concept of the invention.

Patents are intended to promote innovation and the exchange of ideas. The granting of a patent is traditionally considered an exchange between the applicant and the government: the applicant permits the invention to be disclosed to the public and in return the government grants the applicant a monopoly to practice the invention as claimed in the patent document. But of course it’s not that simple, as the invention and the patent application must meet all of the government's requirements.

A patent is generally considered to be the strongest way to protect an invention. If a patent can be obtained, a patent holder may be able to prevent others from practicing the invention, obtain license fees from others who wish to practice the invention, and use it as a marketing tool.

Patents are often a client’s most valuable asset, but evaluating inventions, reviewing patentability issues, procuring patents, devising patent protection strategies, negotiating licenses and agreements, and dealing with infringement issues can be complex.

Woods Rogers PLC assists clients in evaluating their inventions and designs and preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent and design applications. Our attorneys provide a full range of services in the patent area including patent prosecution, counseling, licensing, acquisition, litigation, and opposition proceedings, and have successfully represented clients in prosecuting, obtaining, and defending their patents.

Newsletters

• IP: Patent Update May 2007