When it comes to your intellectual property, it is important to make the correct decisions for patent protection in Tampa Bay. Inventors can prevent theft and profit loss by working with an intellectual property law attorney.
What is a Patent?
A patent is a set of rights given by a government to an inventor that protects their intellectual property that offers a new way of doing something, or a solution to an issue. This allows whoever owns the rights to make decisions on how the invention is used and by whom. With these rights, you are also able to benefit financially from your invention. You can decide if you want to manufacture or sell your product and all the details regarding business matters.
Why is Patent Protection Important?
Patent protection has many benefits. Above all, it gives you exclusive rights to your invention. Since you are the only one with these rights, there is less competition. If you do not wish to market your invention yourself, you can sell the rights, which could prove financially beneficial.
Patent protection also adds corporate value to a business in Tampa Bay. There are far more pros than cons when it comes to safeguarding your intellectual property, including reducing profit loss from idea theft and losing out on market shares for your invention.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Patent?
You are not required to hire a legal professional when filing an application. However, it is highly encouraged. With a lawyer, you can reduce your chances of process error. Patent attorneys are very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the application process and the laws involving intellectual property. At Larson & Larson in Tampa Bay, we have an excellent understanding of the necessary steps to ensure your intellectual property is protected. In addition, hiring a lawyer makes it easier on whoever is filing the request.
Our team can help you with the research and writing of the application, as well as track the status of your submission along the way. Also, many of our Tampa Bay-area attorneys specialize in certain fields like biotechnology, engineering, and more, making communication about your invention much easier.
How to Find a Patent Protection Lawyer
When looking for the best Tampa Bay attorney for patent protection, be sure to ask questions during your consultation. Some questions you may want to ask include:
- Does your team focus on intellectual property law?
- What services do you offer?
- How much experience do you have?
- What is working with your team like?
If you discuss this information first, you can find the best firm that has valuable experience in intellectual property law, and meet an attorney who can give your case the attention it deserves.
Common Patent Application Filing Mistakes
With the help of a Tampa Bay attorney, your chances of making a mistake during the application process are much lower. Here are some common mistakes made by individuals looking to safeguard their intellectual property:
- Failing to include all necessary documents;
- Failing to pay all fees;
- Sending the request to the incorrect location; and
- Inaccurately recording details and descriptions.
You must include a description of your invention, illustrations, descriptions of the drawings, and an abstract when filing an application. Failure to include all of these items could result in the rejection of your application. If you do not clarify what fees you plan on paying, or if you do not pay the fees, you once again face the likelihood of rejection.
The correct place to send an application is the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, people occasionally send them to the United States Copyright Office instead. This keeps your request from ever reaching the appropriate party and leaves you without patent protection.
The description of your application must focus on functionality. You should include information on the manufacturing process of your product, its designs, the materials you will make it out of, and how it works.
Trust Larson & Larson as Your Tampa Bay Patent Attorneys
At Larson & Larson, we specialize in matters of intellectual property and patent protection. We also focus on copyrights, trademarks, and licensing. We provide Tampa Bay clients with attorneys who are best suited for them and their inventions.
In addition to application assistance, our firm also provides services that establish, maintain, and enforce the intellectual property rights of our clients. We have developed an international network of foreign associates we trust. Through our network, we are able to help clients safeguard their inventions abroad. For more information, contact us online or call us at (727) 546-0660.