The Chatter We Make

Coca-Cola has one. So does Kentucky Fried Chicken. And of course, there’s the one that Google has that determines what you’ll see in your search results.

If you’re a small business and you hear the words “you need an attorney”, you likely envision buckets of money flying out the window. However, protecting your intellectual property as a small business, startup, or pre-funded company doesn’t have to be difficult or insanely costly. 

When we think of patents, many people think first of utility patents — the kind that protect the function of an invention. But there’s another type of patent that recently made news headlines that could be crucial to protecting your intellectual property.

I grew up thinking about how awesome it would be to hang out on the holodeck aboard the Starship Enterprise and how terrifying it would be to be relentlessly chased by a stone-cold Terminator. But back in the day, artificial intelligence (AI) was just the faraway stuff of dreams.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently changed rules that significantly impact how trademark applications are submitted from foreign entities. Our firm has had recent inquiries from overseas attorneys wondering how to navigate these new laws.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently issued a caution, saying that a number of private companies are spamming trademark applicants and registrants. These spammers are leading unsuspecting applicants and registrants to believe payment of a fee to the company is required to maintain their application or registration. 

Sometimes a patent does not make business sense. It’s a conversation I have frequently with potential and existing clients, and after a brief discussion, drawing attention to important issues they should consider, they often arrive at the conclusion that it’s not worth it.

If you’re on the receiving end of a cease and desist letter, here are a few things to know and keep in mind.