Patent Services in Minnesota

Patent Services in Minnesota

What does a Minnesota design patent protect?

What does a Minnesota design patent protect?

Whereas a utility patent covers an invention itself including the way it functions or its mechanical structure, a design patent protects only the appearance and design of the object. Put differently, a utility patent protects the way an invention is used and how it works while a design patent protects how it looks. Design patents may be obtained only where the ornamental features of the invention predominate over its functional features. An invention that is primarily utilitarian in nature is generally not protectable by a design patent. A design patent affords the patent holder the right to prevent others from making, using, or selling a product that resembles the patented product closely enough that an “ordinary observer” might confuse the infringing product for the patented one.

What are the benefits of hiring a Minnesota trademark attorney to protect your brand or name?

Trademark attorneys specialize in all areas of trademark law, including registration at the USPTO, counseling, and enforcement. Because there are many nuances in trademark law, having an experienced attorney guide you will help avoid potential complications, especially during the registration process. For example, a Minnesota trademark attorney will know which forms to file with the USPTO, which classes of goods and/or services to apply in, and how to describe these goods and/or services. An attorney will not only be able to help you accurately prepare your application, but will also be able to respond to the USPTO if the examiner finds any issues with the application.

Minnesota Trademark Attorney

Someone stole my brand, what can a Minnesota trademark attorney do to help me?

If you discover that someone is using your brand without authorization, there are a number of steps you can take to protect your rights. While each situation is nuanced, typically the first step is to send a demand letter (also known as a cease-and-desist letter). The purpose of a demand letter is to alert an unauthorized user to your trademark rights and ask the unauthorized user to cease their infringement. A trademark attorney can help you craft a compelling letter, detailing all of the legal and factual bases for your demand.

Demand letters are the most cost effective and efficient way to resolve a trademark dispute. However, in some cases, the unauthorized user may ignore the letter or simply refuse to cease their unauthorized use of your trademark. In this instance, the next step is to consider whether to file a lawsuit. Because there are many factors to consider when deciding to file a lawsuit, such as cost and potential outcomes, it is important to speak with an experienced trademark attorney for guidance.

While trademarks are the subject of both federal and state law, federal law provides the main source of trademark protection. As a result, working with an attorney who specializes in trademark law is generally more beneficial than working with an attorney who practices in a certain state but who has less familiarity with trademarks.

Axenfeld Law Group, an intellectual property firm that specializes in trademark matters, is here to help you enforce your trademark rights. Robert Axenfeld is currently licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, and regularly handles trademark matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and federal courts.

Someone stole my brand, what can a Minnesota trademark attorney do to help me?

Does copyright law protect my photos posted on social media?

U.S. copyright law protects creative works, and photos posted on social media are no exception. The Copyright Act protects photos posted to websites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, but only if the images meet the minimum creativity requirements, are original, and are fixed in a tangible means of expression. When a photographer captures a photograph, they make creative decisions as to the subject matter, lighting, exposure, focus, etc., which typically satisfies both the creativity and originality requirements. Photographs taken with a phone or digital camera meet the fixation requirement when it is recorded or stored in a format that can be preserved and retrieved for future use, display, reproduction, or other commercial exploitation.

Does copyright law protect my photos posted on social media?
Minnesota Patent Attorney

How can a Minnesota patent attorney protect an idea?

An idea can be protected by a patent if the idea constitutes an invention. An idea may be considered an invention under U.S. patent law if it is a new and useful process or machine, or a new and useful improvement to an existing process or machine. Abstract ideas are not patentable, and your invention cannot be something that would be obvious to an ordinarily skilled person in the field of the invention. Your idea must also be detailed enough that it can be described in such a way that an ordinarily-skilled person could make and use the invention based on that description. A patent attorney can help make sure your idea meets the requirements of a patentable invention, and secure protection for that idea by preparing and filing a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Patent Services in Minnesota

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Intellectual Property Law Services by County

Trademark Services in Yellow Medicine County, MN Trademark Services in St. Louis County, MN Trademark Services in Stearns County, MN Trademark Services in Steele County, MN Trademark Services in Stevens County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Swift County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Todd County, MN Trademark Services in Traverse County, MN Patent Services in Wabasha County, MN Patent Services in Waseca County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Washington County, MN Patent Services in Watonwan County, MN Trademark Services in Wilkin County, MN Trademark Services in Winona County, MN Patent Services in Wright County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Wadena County, MN Patent Services in Pope County, MN Trademark Services in Polk County, MN Trademark Services in Pipestone County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Pine County, MN Patent Services in Pennington County, MN Patent Services in Otter Tail County, MN Trademark Services in Olmsted County, MN Trademark Services in Norman County, MN Patent Services in Nobles County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Nicollet County, MN Patent Services in Rice County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Red Lake County, MN Patent Services in Sibley County, MN Trademark Services in Sherburne County, MN Patent Services in Scott County, MN Patent Services in Roseau County, MN Trademark Services in Rock County, MN Trademark Services in Renville County, MN Patent Services in Redwood County, MN Patent Services in Ramsey County, MN Trademark Services in Marshall County, MN Trademark Services in Murray County, MN Trademark Services in Mower County, MN Patent Services in Morrison County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Mille Lacs County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Meeker County, MN Patent Services in McLeod County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Martin County, MN Patent Services in Mahnomen County, MN Patent Services in Jackson County, MN Trademark Services in Kanabec County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Kandiyohi County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Kittson County, MN Trademark Services in Koochiching County, MN Trademark Services in Lac qui Parle County, MN Trademark Services in Lake County, MN Patent Services in Lake of the Woods County, MN Patent Services in Le Sueur County, MN Patent Services in Lincoln County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Lyon County, MN Patent Services in Fillmore County, MN Patent Services in Chippewa County, MN Trademark Services in Chisago County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Clay County, MN Patent Services in Clearwater County, MN Trademark Services in Cook County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Cottonwood County, MN Patent Services in Crow Wing County, MN Patent Services in Dakota County, MN Patent Services in Dodge County, MN Trademark Services in Douglas County, MN Patent Services in Freeborn County, MN Patent Services in Goodhue County, MN Patent Services in Grant County, MN Trademark Services in Hennepin County, MN Patent Services in Houston County, MN Patent Services in Hubbard County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Isanti County, MN Patent Services in Itasca County, MN Patent Services in Faribault County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Cass County, MN Patent Services in Anoka County, MN Patent Services in Becker County, MN Patent Services in Beltrami County, MN Patent Services in Benton County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Big Stone County, MN Trademark Services in Blue Earth County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Brown County, MN Patent Services in Carlton County, MN Intellectual Property Law Services in Carver County, MN Trademark Services in Aitkin County, MN