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
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been filming new episodes of Ask the Patent Attorney. I have been looking for input and questions from inventors to fill new shows. We are going to film this week and I am looking for inventors to make comments below or email me questions and I will answer … Continue Reading
Recently, I’ve been working on a new website designed to help inventors. The website is called patenthome.com. Ever since I started blogging at LoTempiolaw I’ve been learning more and more about social networking and search engine optimization and in an effort to increase the traffic on the webpage I purchased a high definition camera and … Continue Reading
Even though a jury ruled that the software that runs the famous Facebook site infringed on the patent of Leader Technologies, Facebook still won the case. The reply appeal brief was just filed last month. I think the issues in this case are relevant for all inventors. Inventors should be aware that disclosure of their … 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
Is patent reform really going to happen in June 2011? All indications are that the ongoing patent reform legislation–that has been bantered about for nearly 10 years and presented to lawmakers in five Congressional cycles–is going to be passed this month by the House of Representatives. The US Senate passed its version of patent reform, … 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
The latest patent reform bill entitled “The Patent Reform Act of 2011" (PDF) , will be introduced to Congress by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chairman of the Judiciary Committee, on Jan. 25, 2011. Could this be the year it becomes law? The Judiciary Committee has introduced patent reform bills to Congress every year since 2006. … Continue Reading
I hope everyone is having a happy Thanksgiving. I searched through the patent office to find patents with a Turkey and I looked through the many utility patents and design patents. This led me to wonder if people really understand the difference between the two. Utility Patents: For any process, machine, composition of matter or … Continue Reading
The Big Idea: How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Come True, From the Aha Moment to Your First Million by Donny Deutsch LoTempio Law Blog Book Review About the book What’s "The Big Idea"? It’s a book by Donny Deutsch that profiles many of the successful entrepreneurs who have visited his CNBC talk show, … Continue Reading
Guest Blogger: Arthur S. Cookfair, Registered Patent Agent WHAT CAN BE PATENTED The patent statutes (35 U.S.C. 101) specify four classes of subject matter suitable for the grant of a patent. To be patentable, an invention must be directed to a: process machine manufacture, or composition of matter Often a close look at the creative … Continue Reading
Guest Blogger: Arthur S. Cookfair, Registered Patent Agent “A country without a Patent Office and good patent laws is just a crab and can’t travel anyway but sideways and backways.” Declared Mark Twain (speaking through his character, Sir Boss, in a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court). In his homey way, Sir Boss was simply … Continue Reading
The 15th Annual Independent Inventors Conference, co-sponsored by the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO), and Invent Now® will be held in Alexandria, VA at the US Patent and Trademark Office campus on November 4 – 5, 2010. A pre-conference workshop (November 3, 2010 from 5pm – 7pm) is included with your registration for anyone … Continue Reading
Recently a client asked me to sue a competitor for infringement on her patent application. I told her that even though you can mark articles with the terms "Patent Applied For" or "Patent Pending" these phrases have no legal effect, but only give information that an application for patent has been filed in the United … Continue Reading
Recently I authored a blog post regarding whether or not you can patent an idea? Remember you can get a patent for the" thing" you make not the idea. In order for an idea to become a patented invention, the inventor must be able to teach someone of ordinary skill in the art how to … 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
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor…" 35 U.S.C. 101 A patent on an invention may not be obtained if the differences between the invention sought to be patented and the prior art are such … 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 patentable subject matter? Many people believe that they can patent anything. But the truth is there is only certain statutorily allowable subject matter that can be patented (35 USC 101). Here’s a list of the basic allowable subject matter: Process (Method of making infrared heaters which reduces costs by 25%) Machine (Motorized device … Continue Reading
Can you patent an idea? No. Many potential inventors say to me “I have an idea I would like to patent” but what they do not understand is that the invention itself is patentable, not the idea. In order for an idea to become a patented invention, the inventor must be able to teach someone … Continue Reading
The official United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Facebook page promises to deliver the latest USPTO news, photos and videos. Through Facebook the USPTO will directly connect with the public and the intellectual property community. According to David Kappos the USPTO’s Facebook page is meant provide “a place where users can tell US what … Continue Reading
What Inventors Need to Know… Most independent inventors want to license their invention to a retailer. Usually an inventor does not have the experience nor the money to market, manufacture and distribute a product on their own. So when I ask an inventor if I had a magic wand and instantly gave you a patent, … Continue Reading
