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Search Questions to Dr. Patentstein

Q: IF A PERSON COMES ACROSS A EXPIRED PATENT, CAN THEY REBRAND THE PRODUCT AND SELL IT? ISN'T IT PUBLIC DOMAIN? posted Sunday 1 of May 2011 by Brian A. Maybe, if there are no other patents that would prevent one from making, using and selling the invention. view tags: expired, patent, rebrand, product, sell, public domain

Q: CAN A COMPANY PATENT A PROCESS OF DOING SOMETHING WITH ANOTHER COMPANY'S INVENTION? FOR EXAMPLE, PATENTING THE PROCESS IN WHICH THEIR PRODUCTS ARE PAINTED WITH ANOTHER COMPANIES PAINTING EQUIPMENT? posted Wednesday 25 of May 2011 by Gary A. Yes, this is a typical situation. If the invention (the method in this case) is new, not obvious, and useful, the patent office i... view tags: company, equipment, invention

Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO PATENT A LINK BETWEEN TWO READILY AVAILABLE PRODUCTS. THE TWO PRODUCTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS BUT ARE NOT USED TOGETHER IN THE WAY I WISH TO IF SO HOW DO I DO THIS? posted Monday 8 of August 2011 by Benjamin A. Yes, if your combination is new, and would not be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the field of the invention. Most inven... view tags: patent, link, between, two, products, available, manufacturers

Q: I HAVE CREATED SEVERAL CARTOON CHARACTERS AND PLAN TO REGISTER COPYRIGHT FOR THEM. AFTER REGISTERING COPYRIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO CREATE A SEWING OR CROCHETING PATTERN FOR THOSE CHARACTERS AND SELL THE PATTERN TO CUSTOMERS WHILE SPECIFYING THAT IT IS ONLY TO BE USED FOR PERSONAL USE, AND THAT THE END PRODUCT PRODUCED FROM THE PATTERN IS NOT TO BE SOLD. DOES MY REGISTERED COPYRIGHT OF THE ORIGINAL CARTOON THAT I DESIGNED THE PATTERN FROM ALSO APPLY TO THE END PRODUCT (THE TOY) THAT THE CUSTOMER CROCHETS BY USING MY PATTERN? AM I LEGALLY ALLOWED TO RESTRICT THE CUSTOMERS FROM SELLING TOYS THEY MAKE OF MY COPYRIGHTED CHARACTER FROM THE PATTERNS I SELL TO THEM? posted Sunday 26 of February 2012 by Dana A. Yes, the copyright does extend to your toy. Yes, you should be able to limit their use to personal use as well. You just need a pr... view tags: cartoon, characters, crocheting, pattern, toy

Q: DR PATENTSTEIN, I AM INTERESTED IN A PRODUCT THAT HAS SEVERAL PATENTS. HOW DO I KNOW (I AM A LAYMAN) WHAT THE EXPIRATION IS ON THE PATENTS? WOULD THEY BE BASED ON THE DATE OF THE FIRST FILING? posted Sunday 6 of January 2013 by john A. The valid term or enforceable life for US patents is difficult to determine because it depends on (1) whether maintenance fees hav... view tags: product, several, patents, expiration, first filing

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Providing initial English-language answers to your English, French or German questions about international patent and trademark matters, more specifically, US, European and Chinese patent and trademark law and the related registration processes.