Vic Lin

How to Protect Your Product’s Look Before Competitors Copy It If the appearance of your product or concept stands out, a design patent may be…

When is a patent application allowed? When your patent application has been allowed, the USPTO will send a Notice of Allowance setting forth a 3-month…

When are marked-up amended claims not required? Patent claims must be amended in a very particular manner. The USPTO has strict marking rules on how…

How to trademark a new company name: First incorporate or search trademarks? This question might catch you off guard if your plans for incorporation didn’t…

What is a smart patent strategy for startups? For startups, knowing where to start with patents is the hard part. Once you have an IP…

When your startup company name is also the trademark for your product Before incorporating, it is best to search the USPTO trademark database for your…

What is a surname trademark? If you are attempting to register a mark that constitutes or includes a surname, there is a significant risk that…

What is a trademark cancellation? A trademark cancellation is a mini-lawsuit filed with the TTAB to attack a trademark registration. Cancellations deal with only registered…

What is an Advisory Action? In response to a Final Office Action, an applicant has the option file an after-final response without a Request for…

Utility Nonprovisional Patent Application: Is this the right patent filing for your concept? A nonprovisional patent application is what you file to get a utility…

What is a provisional patent application? So you’re thinking about getting a utility patent, but you’re not sure whether you want to invest in such…

How do you read utility patent claims? What exactly does a utility patent cover? It boils down to the claims. Yet, they are the least…