How Do You File A Patent

You got a great invention, and you don't want others to create or use the same invention (or at least nobody can claim they invented it). That's the kind of protection a patent offers. It gives you exclusivity to create, reproduce and sell the product or process to the public for a particular length of time (most patents nowadays offer protection for a minimum of 17 years).

Business Method Patents, Part I

Business method patents protect some very important things in your business. Since the Supreme Court’s decision in 1998 to grant patents based on business methods, the Patent and Trademark Office has been inundated with applications of this type. There is currently a four-year wait for patent application approvals. Before 1998, it was normally the assumption that a method of doing business could not be patented, and only a few property protections were in place. But in 1998, a landmark case between Signature Financial Group and State Street Bank and Trust, handed down a decision that a patent could be obtained based on a method of doing business. The dispute between these two companies involved a way to calculate concerning mutual funds, and the Supreme Court agreed that a particular method for calculating them could be patented under a business method patent. As the name implies, business method patents refers to the method or the way in which the company does business. Business method ....

Business Method Patents, Part II

Since the flood of applications to the Patent Office, various online companies have applied for and been granted patents on a wide variety of methods, many of those involving Internet shopping or Web commerce advertising. In order to qualify for a business method patent there are various criteria that must be met. First of all, a business method patent is granted for a method or type of business software that is practical in its purpose. This is a criterion which is common for granting of all patents. Another criterion is that the business method must not be obvious. The Patent Office will not approve applications for methods that they have deemed to be entirely obvious. It is easy to prove that a method is practical, but a little harder to prove it is not obvious. A third criterion a business method patent must fulfill is that it should be something that is worth patenting. The Patent and Trademark ....

Patent History, Part I

You are about to learn a brief history of patents and how they become to be so essential in business as we know it. The first written mention of modern patents we know of are in 15th century business documents from Italy. Italy was one of the first countries to make it possible for an investor to protect an idea by obtaining government or official recognition of the creative act. This early experiment in intellectual property rights led to a ferment of growth and discovery in Italy and elsewhere. After Italy issued the first set of patents, their use did not widely spread to neighboring European countries until the 17th century. From there, the concept of patents in the United States was first recognized in the Patent Act of 1790, which consisted of a brief collection of patent rules and guidelines on how to obtain a patent. Under ....

Patent Laws Defined, Part II

United States Code – Title 35 Part Two Part two of the United States code on obtaining a patent is quite lengthy. It starts off describing the different criteria that must be met by the invention before it can be patented. This section of Title 35 also deals with the various types of patents available, along with how to submit an application to the Patent Office. Part two of the patent laws also contains information on the guidelines used in assessing your application, and the process involved in issuing the patent. United States Code – Title 35 Part Three This section of the United States Code on patents addresses the legal issues associated with patents. It describes the patent laws involved in the ....

Gem State Idaho Child Support

If you do not already have a child support order, Idaho Child Support Services office can help you navigate the legal requirements to get one.

Mississippi Child Support Laws The Magnolia State

The child support enforcement office is able to assist custodial parents in locating a non-custodial parent, enforcing child support, establish paternity, and any other assistance the custodial parents may need.

Code Enforcement and Better Community Relations Considered

Most folks do not like the code enforcement officers in their community one bit, yet without them surely chaos might ensue on a small level. Most all business owners hate them due to the compliance, which is mandatory when they come around.

State of California Spent $5 Billion of Citizens' Unclaimed Money

The State of California has amassed $4.8 Billion in unclaimed money owed to citizens. With no statute of limitations on claiming money and minimal state outreach to account owners, approximately $900 million in unclaimed money funds is added annually. The State currently spends the unclaimed money by depositing it into the States General Fund. Citizens need to be informed of money owed to them and take what is rightfully theirs.

Legal Advice on DUI and OUI Charges: What to Do?

It depends on the state, but nearly all states have strict laws against driving under the influence or operating under the influence. Driving while under the influence is an illegal action, which is often known as a misdemeanor in the court of law.

Arizona Tax Lawyers

Tax law illustrates the government levies on economic transactions, generally called taxes. Tax law has been made a sub-discipline and an area of specialist study in law schools. Even though tax law specialists can involve in litigation, they are mainly engaged in consultative roles.

California DUI Attorney FAQs

Wondering whether you really need to hire a California DUI attorney? Do you know you need one but are not sure where to look? Here are the answers to your FAQs.

California DUI Attorney Schooling

When looking for a good DUI (driving under the influence) attorney to represent you in your case, educational background and expertise should be taken into consideration.

California Lawyer Rates

What are the rates of California lawyers, and how do they compute their fees?

California Lawyer Schooling

When looking for California lawyers to represent you in your case, choose someone that has a good academic background coupled with experience and expertise in a particular aspect of the law pertaining to your case. The attorney should be a graduate of a reputable law school and an accredited member of the bar or a lawyer?s association in a particular area. He should have a license to practice law in the area where the case is being tried.