Patent Law News + Insights

Strategic insights and updates on US patent prosecution and global patent portfolio development, for proactive patent professionals and savvy technology executives.

When Can Prior Art Invalidate an Issued Patent?

April 12, 2018

Recently, a blog reader brought a great question to our attention: If an element in a dependent claim is found in the prior art, does the whole patent fall?

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How to Write an Invention Disclosure Record

March 29, 2018

In a previous blog post, we recommended using IDRs to help document your company’s ownership of an invention.

You might be wondering: what does “IDR” stand for? Well, there’s no official term for the thing we’re talking about. It might go by the...

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22 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Patent Law Firm

March 22, 2018

A tech company’s relationship with a patent law firm is often a long-term one. That’s why it’s important to do your due diligence to ensure you’re hiring the right attorney for your intellectual property needs.

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Filing in the United States via PCT Application: Bypass Continuation or National Stage Entry?

March 15, 2018

Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), you can file a single “international” application that’s effective as an initial application with all PCT member states. This allows you to secure a filing date — while deferring the decision about where...

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Introducing Our New Patent Attorney, Maria Sekul!

February 28, 2018

I’m proud to announce that Maria Sekul has joined Henry Patent Law Firm as a Patent Attorney. Maria joins us from Ericsson, where she served as Senior Patent Counsel, managing their global patent portfolio covering wireless technologies.

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International Patent Protection for Startups: 6 Factors to Consider

February 22, 2018

Patents give you the right to exclude others from making, selling, using, or importing a particular product or service — and to claim royalties from anyone who infringes your patent.

Patents are also country-specific: Your U.S. patent can’t be...

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When’s the Right Time to Start the Patent Process?

February 08, 2018

At Henry Patent Law Firm, we frequently hear from innovators and startup owners who are seeking to patent their inventions.

Although patent protection is often the right business move for these folks, they frequently also face constraints like a...

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What’s the Difference Between a Patent, a Trademark, and a Copyright?

January 25, 2018

Last year, we published a post that discussed the difference between a patent and a trade secret.

Since then, we’ve been asked to take a deep dive into the differences between patents, trademarks, and copyrights — the other common types of...

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What Investors Want to Know About Your IP Strategy

January 18, 2018

If you’re running an early-stage tech company, you’re probably thinking about how you’re going to raise funding.

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We’re a Startup. Do We Really Need a Patent Attorney?

December 28, 2017

The cost of obtaining patent protection can run high. Because many tech startups are operating under a limited budget, they might be tempted to cut corners by self-filing their patent applications.

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