Vic Lin

What is a patent publication? A patent publication is a published utility patent application which is not the same thing as a patent. While a…

What is a color claim in trademark application? Color is an issue only when dealing with design marks, such as logos, that have elements of…

What is a suggestive mark? A suggestive trademark has wording that suggests characteristics of the underlying goods or services without saying it outright. As stated…

What is a trademark audit? The USPTO has implemented a process to audit the renewal of trademark registrations. It is called the Trademark Post Registration…

Can a patent be renewed? No, you cannot renew a patent in the US. Technically speaking, US utility patents are maintained, not renewed. The connotation…

Is it too late to patent a product after it has been sold or publicly disclosed? Maybe not. Ideally, you would have filed patent applications…

Foreign patent costs Foreign patent costs are high. If we’re talking about utility patents, expect about $2,000 to $6,000 for the initial filing in each…

A Problem The journey to a granted patent starts with a problem. You search for a satisfactory solution, but can’t find any. Others may have…

What is a trademark with acquired distinctiveness? Some trademarks are inherently distinctive from the start. Inherently distinctive marks generally include marks that are arbitrary, fanciful…

Can you speed up design patent applications? Prior to April 17, 2025, Rocket Docket was an option to speed up the examination of design patent…

Broader Patent Claims: When Less Is More Before we dive into this discussion, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what we…

What is a trademark strategy that will improve the chances of registering your mark? A successful trademark registration will depend a great deal upon the…