"Ask Dr. Patentstein" for a free US Patent in PDF format or for a Hint on Patent strategy

Search Questions to Dr. Patentstein

Q: COULD YOU PLEASE INFORM ME OF THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF INTERNATIONAL/US PATIENTS? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW LONG IS A PATENT VALID FOR EXCLUSIVE USE BY THE PATENTEE? posted Wednesday 25 of May 2011 by Alton A. 20 years from the filing of the regular application (the filing date of the US provisional doesn't count), provided renewal fees a... view tags: validity, international, patients, exclusive, patentee

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: WHEN FILING A PRIORITY APPLICATION IN ONE COUNTRY, CAN SUBSEQUENT FILINGS IN OTHER COUNTRIES (WHILE CLAIMING PRIORITY DATE OF FIRST FILING) BE ANY DIFFERENT FROM FIRST FILING AT ALL? I FILED IN US FIRST FOR AN INVENTION. LATER I FOUND A TINY IMPROVEMENT. CAN I ADD THAT IMPROVEMENT AND FILE IN JAPAN WHILE CLAIMING PRIORITY DATE FOR US FILING? posted Wednesday 25 of May 2011 by Christopher A. Yes, you can, so long as you file the other applications within one year of your earliest claimed priority date. In fact, you can... view tags: priority application, priority date, improvement, japan

Q: CAN YOUR TRADEMARK INCLUDE ANOTHER'S TRADEMARK? posted Tuesday 7 of June 2011 by Gabrielle A. Maybe. In many cases, you may be free to use the trademark of another, but on completely different goods and services. Even if f... view tags: include, trademark, jurisdiction

Q: HOW ABOUT COLLAGES OF PORTIONS OF COPYRIGHTED PUBLICATIONS OR OTHER WORKS--IS PERMISSION FROM THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OF EACH WORK USED NECESSARY? posted Monday 22 of August 2011 by Gary A. It depends on whether there is a copying and, if so, whether the copying is a fair use. Directly attaching clipped out portions of... view tags: collages, portion, copyrighted, publications

Can't find your answer? We suggest you...

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.