The short answer is yes.  As we meet to discuss and evaluate a potential working legal relationship, please know that your information will be keep confidential.  As attorneys, we are bound by confidentiality obligations. This means that we are prohibited from disclosing any information you provide without your consent, except in limited circumstances where disclosure may be required by law.

No problem!  We are a nationwide law firm, helping clients all over the United States.  Most of the intellectual property law that we practice is federal—not specific to any one state.  Moreover, our meetings are generally by Zoom or telephone.  We would be happy to explore helping you whether you are in Point Barrow, Alaska (3,665 miles from us) or next door.

You want to hire an IP attorney or firm that is honest, experienced, and smart, like Johnston IP Law. You will need an attorney that focuses exclusively on intellectual property that is practical and can see things from your perspective.

To answer that, we ask you to watch this short video: https://vimeo.com/828049373?share=copy

Trademarks in the United States can last indefinitely so long as they are properly maintained and renewed.  It’s important to note that the registration and renewal process requires meeting specific requirements and deadlines, as well as paying all necessary fees. Failure to meet these requirements or nonpayment of fees can result in the cancellation or abandonment of the trademark registration. Johnston IP Law routinely helps clients maintain their trademark rights.  

There are three types of patents: utility patents (for new processes, machines, or improvements), design patents (for new, original, and ornamental designs), and plant patents (for distinct and new varieties of plants). Within the utility patent type, there are two kinds: provisional patent applications and non-provisional patent applications.

A provisional patent application serves as a temporary filing to establish an early priority date for an application. It requires a written description of the invention but does not necessitate formal patent claims. It is a simpler and less expensive type of application.  While a provisional application does not result in a granted patent, it provides a 12-month “patent pending” status, offering the inventor a way to hold a place in line. This allows inventors to further develop their invention, evaluate market potential, and decide whether to pursue a non-provisional patent application. In contrast, a non-provisional patent application is a comprehensive and formal filing that aims to obtain a granted patent. It includes a detailed description, patent claims defining the scope of the invention, drawings (if necessary), and other supporting documents. Non-provisional applications undergo examination by the USPTO and can lead to the issuance of a granted patent, providing exclusive rights to the inventor for a specified period.

No.  You can file a patent application on your invention without ever building or testing it.

An invention company primarily offers services to assist inventors throughout the invention process, providing guidance on concept evaluation, prototype development, market research, and submission of invention ideas. They focus on supporting inventors with various aspects of bringing their ideas to market but may not provide legal representation or expertise. While they undoubtedly do good for many, there has been much criticism of these companies.   See the USPTO’s paper entitled, “Protect Yourself Against Invention Promotion Scams.”  On the other hand, a patent law firm specializes in intellectual property law, particularly patents, and offers legal services such as conducting patent searches, preparing and filing patent applications, prosecuting patents, and handling patent-related legal matters. Patent law firms have attorneys with specific expertise in patent law (registered to practice before the USPTO) and provide legal representation and guidance to inventors, working to ensure their inventions are protected within the legal framework.