Recently I was interviewed by Colin O’Keefe of LXBN TV about the push in Congress and the Senate by bipartisan representatives to punish patent trolls. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) announced the proposed legislation named the Shield Act, which would make the “patent troll” that brings a patent infringement lawsuit liable for both sides’ legal fees should they lose. The Shield Act is an … Continue Reading
As a patent attorney here in Buffalo, New York I am constantly amazed at how inventors from all over the country come up with ideas in their heads and turn those ideas into actual products. Recently I spoke with a client regarding his journey as an inventor. I asked him if he would share with … Continue Reading
As a Buffalo copyright attorney I meet many new authors. A childhood friend of mine recently published a book of songs he wrote and I asked him to share some of his thoughts about the publishing process with my LoTempio law blog readers. Here is what Alan Gembola had to say: Can you give us … Continue Reading
Ronald L. Docie Sr is the president of Docie Development, LLC, an international company that provides services for inventors and corporations. His inventions are featured in Wal-Mart, Kmart and thousands of other distribution channels. As an agent for inventors, Docie has negotiated license deals with many companies including General Motors, and he’s a consultant to … Continue Reading
One of the things I enjoy about law blogging is my opportunity to interview thought leaders in the intellectual property arena. Recently I had the opportunity to be introduced to Brian Wagner who is a co-founder of a company called "Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions"(PTIS). PTIS is a group of “Global Management and Packaging Consultants.” … Continue Reading
I am a Buffalo attorney who focuses on intellectual property law and I rarely get an opportunity to discuss fashion branding with other intellectual property attorneys. However recently I needed to find a Canadian attorney to help me file a trademark assignment for one of my clients in Canada, and I enlisted the help of … Continue Reading
Inventors often come to my office looking for help to not only protect their intellectual property by filing a patent application, but to get help to sell their idea to a big company. I often ask inventors that come to me why do invention submission companies charge you if your idea is so good? Why … Continue Reading
Inventor Joe Iannello came up with an idea of how to easily clean the underside of a lawnmower and he developed a new product called the Spray–n-Mow. He designed it, he received United States Patent 7,628,003(PDF) for it, he got it manufactured and now he is marketing his own product and selling it. It wasn’t … Continue Reading
As a patent attorney here in Buffalo, New York I was very happy to learn that Esther Takeuchi a University at Buffalo professor was among the 2011 inductees to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. So I contacted her and asked her a few questions which she graciously answered (see below). The induction comes from … Continue Reading
When starting a new business one of the first things that needs to be done is to create a brand. Branding establishes the first impression that your target audience has of your business. Existing businesses sometimes need to re-create their brand. I once asked an attorney "why does the public perceive you as the best … Continue Reading
Recently I received a calendar (PDF) from professional patent searcher Martin Keller. On each month of the calendar is a patent drawing that is very unique. So I contacted him because I wanted to thank him for sending me the calendar and see if he would answer a couple questions about preliminary "prior art" patentability … Continue Reading
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted an all-time high 219,614 United States utility patents in 2010 – up 31 percent over 2009. All but one of the companies in the Top 50 are up from 2009, most shattering records and many posting double-digit percentage gains. IBM continues to hold down the #1 … Continue Reading
Recently I met with Fred Landers with Paragon Model Makers Inc. and we had a nice conversation about how he can help inventors build working prototypes and models. Having a prototype is important in the patent process as well as manufacturing process. Like any endeavor cost and efficiency are concerns in trying to reach your … Continue Reading
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) web page is not very user friendly when searching for prior art patents. But I found an add-on for Firefox called Aspator that makes it much friendlier. The Aspator add-on works with search pages for patents and patent applications on the USPTO and the European Patent Office … Continue Reading
What Inventors Need to Know… Tom Demitry is an entrepreneur, an inventor, a salesman, a marketer, a man of ideas and as he will tell you first and foremost a father and a man of God. He is constantly coming up with new ideas and new ways to reinvent himself. His passion and enthusiasm are … Continue Reading
Recently I met with Ron Roberts, President of Rolite Manufacturing. Rolite is a roll forming manufacturer that produces metal products of all shapes and sizes for large and small companies. I toured their manufacturing facility and was amazed at how a compact roll of sheet metal can be stretched, cut, pounded, bent, stamped, shaped and … Continue Reading
What is happening with regard to the Patent Reform Act of 2010? Recently I asked this and other questions to first term Congressman Chris Lee, who represents New York’s 26th Congressional District. I think it’s important to note that Chris Lee, true to his pro-entrepreneurial stance, has taken the initiative to advocate for Research and … Continue Reading
Guest Blogger: Brendan S. Lillis, Registered Patent Attorney These days, with the average waiting period to hear back from the patent office regarding a new application exceeding three years, the patent office needs all the help it can get. As such, filers of patents are required to disclose all relevant information about prior art that … Continue Reading
What inventors need to know… How does an inventor take a good idea and then develop it into a new product? Recently I asked this and other questions relating to invention development to the affable forward thinking Justin Aiello. His company Aiello Designs takes ideas and turns them into reality. Here are a few questions … Continue Reading
As a father of four, Richard P. Conway was helping one of his children learn how to ride a bike and while trying to hold on and run behind the bicycle, he thought, "there has to be a better way." From there his journey as an Inventor to new product developer began. He has since … Continue Reading
What Inventors Need to Know… An inventor does not need a prototype to file for patent protection. Many inventors incorrectly believe they need a working prototype in order to file an application for a patent. The law requires that a patent application include a description of the invention so that somebody skilled in the art … Continue Reading
