Why Patent Applications Are Published and the Effects A patent application publication provides the public with access to a pending patent application to notify the public of the patent-pending status of new applications and make it aware of new innovations and technologies. It lets the public see the invention, drawings, and pending patent claims before […]

A Guide for Business Owners How much does a trademark cost? U.S. government filing fees are $350 per class, if you apply for a single class of goods or services and utilize the pre-approved descriptions provided in the Trademark ID Manual. However, there are additional costs that may be incurred in your application, such as […]

How it Occurs and How it Affects Patent Rights Inequitable conduct is an equitable defense that can render an issued patent unenforceable when a person involved in its prosecution intentionally deceives the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) by withholding or misrepresenting material information. The doctrine protects the integrity of patent examination while preventing accused […]

What Entered the Public Domain and What Disney Still Owns The expiration of the Steamboat Willie copyright became a popular issue when the 1928 cartoon entered the U.S. public domain on January 1, 2024. The lapse permits free use of the film’s original creative expression, but it did not release every version of Mickey Mouse. […]

How to Check a Brand Before You Commit to It A federal trademark search is a search of the database of prior trademark filings provided by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The search may involve searching for combined search terms, including keywords, specified goods and services, and classes of goods and services, […]

An explanation of Apple’s allegations, the legal claims, and business implications. Apple filed a 41-page complaint on July 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The Apple-OpenAI trade secret lawsuit names OpenAI, io Products, and two former Apple employees, Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan. An Apple spokesperson said, […]

How it Affects Patent Scope Patent claims are specialized formal descriptions of an invention that define the legal protection provided by the patent. However, the meaning of the words in the claims requires close evaluation of both the language of the claims, the detailed description of the invention provided in the specification of the application. […]

Real-World Lessons for Businesses A trademark distinguishes a company’s products or services from those of others. It may be a word, symbol, design, color, package, or combination of branding elements. Trademark infringement occurs when unauthorized use is likely to cause consumer confusion about the source, sponsorship, or affiliation of goods or services. This article provides […]

An Explanation of Patent Term and How Patents End When do patents expire? Most United States patents follow a twenty-year term measured from a controlling filing date, but the actual expiration date may change because the application is part of a patent family with multiple related applications, maintenance fees, Patent Term Adjustment, Patent Term Extension, […]

An Explainer of Restrictions and Their Effects in a Patent Application A restriction requirement is a procedural action in U.S. patent law. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues it during examination when a single application appears to claim multiple patentably independent and distinct inventions. The examiner requires the applicant to elect one […]