What is PPH (Patent Prosecution Highway)?
What is PPH? PPH stands for Patent Prosecution Highway, a cooperative program between the USPTO and participating foreign patent offices to expedite the allowance of…
The Largest Free Patent and Trademark Q&A Resource: 570+ Posts on IP
Where can I find an IP checklist for startup companies?
What is an IP checklist? An IP checklist helps a startup company to make sure that fundamental IP rights are adequately protected. At a minimum,…
How to Oppose a Pending Patent Application
Is there a way to challenge or oppose a patent application? Yes, any third party may file a preissuance submission to oppose a nonprovisional patent…
What are your patent pending rights?
What rights do you have while patent pending? Can a patent filer can stop copycats and would-be infringers while their patent application is pending? The…
What are the foreign filing deadlines for patent applications?
What are patent foreign filing deadlines? A foreign filing deadline refers to a specific date by which an applicant must file a foreign patent application…
How to reply to a patent infringement letter
Have you received a patent infringement cease-and-desist letter? Patent cease-and-desist letters come in various forms. Some patent infringement letters contain aggressive language. Others take a…
Is a new Power of Attorney required to pay a patent maintenance fee?
Is a Power of Attorney required to pay a maintenance fee? If a new patent attorney or law firm plans to pay the maintenance fee…
What is trademark use in commerce? How to File a Trademark Application Based on Actual Use
What is use in commerce? To establish trademark rights in the US, a trademark owner generally must be the first to use a mark in…
Can an Assignee be named the Applicant in a U.S. national stage patent application?
Can an Assignee also be identified as an Applicant in a US national phase application? Yes, if the earliest filing date of the US national…
Patent Grace Period: Can you stop competitor copycats by patenting your new version?
Can you file a US patent application after selling your product? The US patent system is different from the patent laws of most foreign countries…
How to Pay a Late Patent Maintenance Fee: Reviving a Utility Patent
Is there such a thing as a patent renewal? Sort of. Instead of patent renewals, they are called maintenance fees. Maintenance fees apply only to…
Provisional vs. Nonprovisional Patent Application: What are the differences?
What are the differences between provisional and nonprovisional patent applications? A nonprovisional patent application is normally considered the regular utility patent application. It is what…
What is an inherently distinctive trademark?
What is an inherently distinctive trademark? An inherently distinctive trademark is a mark that lacks descriptive wording in relation to your goods or services. It’s…
How to Respond to a Trademark Rejection
What is a trademark rejection? Not all trademark Office Actions are the same. Your application may receive a trademark rejection, or a registration refusal, which…
Is my idea patentable?
What makes an idea patentable? If you have specific examples of how your idea would actually work, then your concept might be patentable if it…
Ready to Slay Goliath?
Not sure where to start? Email US patent attorney Vic Lin at vlin@icaplaw.com.