Upsides and Downsides To The Provisional Patent Application

“Should I just file a provisional application to save some money?” Some quick background: A provisional application is one that is filed and lasts for 12 months. It cannot be extended beyond 12 months and remains secret in the USPTO during its pendency. It does allow the inventor to use the “patent pending” designation and […]

Patents: The Difference Between Ownership vs Inventorship

I want to add my business partner/friend/cousin/mother as an inventor so they own part of it, can I do that? Generally speaking, the short answer is no, but that is a question we receive frequently, i.e, who owns this thing? The answer, however, comes down to understanding that there is a difference between ownership and inventorship […]

The First Step To A Patent

I Can’t Find My Idea Anywhere, Now What? Contact your friendly neighborhood patent attorney! Finding a patent attorney is not terribly difficult as your internet search will attest to, but do some research to determine if the person you contact lines up with your expectations. Generally, if you are cost-conscious (and it is presumed that you […]

Client Spotlight: Cloudburst Fireshield

Local News Story – KBJR6‘s Dan Wolfe traveled way up north to witness an invention meant to keep wildfires away from a family cabin “I’ve enjoyed working with Kaufhold & Dix. I chose them because they asked the right questions and had the right answers. The fees and associated services were clear. I am thankful for […]

How to Patent an Idea

Overview New ideas can be priceless, but their value can hinge on the completion of the patent application process. The roadmap discussed herein will offer some insight into how a person or company obtains the intellectual rights to an innovation. Put simply, learning the steps to obtaining a patent for an idea can be an […]

Patent 101 – The Basics of Patent Drawings

Overview By definition, patents are novel legal arrangements describing a new and non-obvious embodiment of an idea. To obtain a patent, the inventor must apply to the patent office, and one of the relevant, supporting sections of a patent application are the patent drawings. The drawings of a patent application assist the Patent Examiner in understanding […]

Handling Patent Delays and Patent Rejection

I am patent pending. Why is this process taking so long, and should I be concerned? The short answer is that we are dealing with an extremely busy government agency, and delays are normal. The USPTO has added patent examiners continually, and the good news is that patent pendency times have decreased over the last […]

The US Patent Office Rules That Inventors Must Be Human

Overview In its recent ruling, the US Patent and Trademark Office says that an artificial intelligence (AI) system can’t be officially recognized as a patent inventor. More particularly, the ruling asserts that under the current law, only “natural humans” can be credited with inventions and effectively rule out AI robots, such as the now-famous DABUS, from being officially attributed […]

How do I get to patent pending?

I received a good patentability opinion; how do I get to patent pending? We are often asked; “when do I have ‘patent pending’ status?” The answer is fairly straightforward. An invention becomes patent pending the moment it is filed with the USPTO. Getting to that position does take a few steps but being patent pending […]

How Legal Fees are Typically Paid During the Patent Process

Overview Inventors make money by making and selling products based on inventions or by licensing an invention to business entities. To market an invention for a potential license, the inventor will need to shop the idea around to interested parties. But by pitching the invention to potential investors, the inventor may jeopardize any rights to […]