Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. ntt,Q.'//”esn‘a.us,Qto.gov
`ESTTA Tracking number:
`ESTTA573093
`
`FIIIIIQ datei
`
`11/25/2013
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`Party
`
`Defendant
`Mark A. Robinson
`
`
`
`Correspondence
`Address
`
`MARK A ROBINSON
`2177 PEPPERIDGE TRL
`BRIGHTON, MI 48114 8955
`UNITED STATES
`
`mark.robinson@koiosgroupIIc.com
`
`Attachments
`
`Sixth Notice of Reliance & Index.pdI(173781 bytes)
`Exs 129 — 138.pdf(2060097 bytes )
`Exs 139 — 170.pdf(524889O bytes )
`
`Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Electronic Filing System. http://estta.uspto.gov
`ESTTA573093
`ESTTA Tracking number:
`11/25/2013
`
`Filing date:
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`91205064
`Defendant
`Mark A. Robinson
`MARK A ROBINSON
`2177 PEPPERIDGE TRL
`BRIGHTON, MI 48114 8955
`UNITED STATES
`mark.robinson@koiosgroupllc.com
`Defendant's Notice of Reliance
`Mark A. Robinson
`mark.robinson@koiosgroupllc.com
`/Mark A. Robinson/
`11/25/2013
`Sixth Notice of Reliance & Index.pdf(173781 bytes )
`Exs 129 - 138.pdf(2060097 bytes )
`Exs 139 - 170.pdf(5248890 bytes )
`
`Proceeding
`Party
`
`Correspondence
`Address
`
`Submission
`Filer's Name
`Filer's e-mail
`Signature
`Date
`Attachments
`
`

`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`BEFORE THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`In the Matter of Trademark Application Serial No. 85/461,935
`
`
`
`John A. Galbreath,
`
`
`
`
`
`Opposer,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Opposition No. 91205064
`
`v.
`
`
`
`
`Mark A. Robinson
`
`
`
`Applicant.
`
`APPLICANT MARK A. ROBINSON’S SIXTH NOTICE OF RELIANCE
`(ROBINSON EXHIBITS 129 – 170)
`
`Pursuant to 37 CFR § 2.122 and Chapter 700 of the TBMP, Applicant, Mark A.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Robinson, intends to rely on the attached documents. An index to the exhibits is also included
`
`providing certain information regarding each exhibit, however other relevant information
`
`regarding the source and general relevance of each exhibit is disclosed in the exhibit document
`
`itself.
`
`
`Dated: November 25, 2013
`
`Respectfully Submitted,
`
`
`
`
`By:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Mark A. Robinson
`2177 Pepperidge Trail
`Brighton, MI 48114
`
`Applicant
`
`
`
`Page 1 of 2
`
`
`
`
`
` 
`
`

`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`The undersigned hereby certifies that on this 25th day of November 2013, a true copy of the
`
`foregoing SIXTH NOTICE OF RELIANCE was served on the Opposer in the following method:
`
`FIRST CLASS MAIL
`
`John A. Galbreath
`2516 Chestnut Woods Ct.
`Reisterstown, MD 21136-5523
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`By:
`
`
`
`
`Mark A. Robinson
`
`2177 Pepperidge Trail
`Brighton, MI 48114
`
`Applicant
`
`Page 2 of 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`  
`
` 
`
`

`
`INDEX TO EXHIBITS - APPLICANT'S NOTICE OF RELIANCE
`EXHIBITS 129 - 170
`Document
`Scarce.
`
`Date
`Accessed
`
`Page(s) to
`be neat
`
`General relevance
`
`E 2
`
`006
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`2007
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`Oct-07
`
`11/25/2013
`
`II/:r "
`
`11/25/2013
`
`6/ I3/2012
`
`11/25/2013
`
`2013
`
`II/25f2(I13
`
`Eli
`
`ROBINSON
`EX. 129
`ROBINSON
`EX. I30
`ROBINSON
`EX.I3l
`ROBINSON
`EX. I32
`ROBINSON
`EX. I33
`ROBINSON
`EX. I34
`ROBINSON
`EX. 135
`ROBINSON
`EX. 136
`ROBINSON
`EX. 137
`ROBINSON
`EX. 138
`
`ROBINSON
`EX. I39
`
`ROBINSON
`EX. I 40
`ROBINSON
`EX. I4 1
`
`Intellectual Property Guide
`
`www.ttorlh~wiIkes§]0[o.C0m
`
`Inventors Who Lost the Race to the Patent
`Office
`’
`When you think your bright idea
`
`www.lcgal2oom.ggrn
`
`www.ertlrepVrcneurs.2Ibout.corri '
`
`Here's a Bright Idea
`
`Bright Ideas
`
`InvenIHe1p web page
`
`Rockford Corp.
`
`htgp:[[www.youtube.com
`
`http:g[www.ash.harvard.cdu
`
`ltttpfltvww.invcttthclpusgm
`
`www.rockl‘ordt'osgate.com
`
`Brightidea Innovation Suite
`
`www.hrightidea.com
`
`Everhan law Firm - Guiding you in the
`execution of your bright idea...
`Patent Attorney Mark Trenner answers
`questions about “Where do I go with my
`bright idea"
`Every "bright idea", catchy logo or visually
`appealing product is a valuable asset and
`our experienced and friendly Trade Mark
`Attorneys are here to help.
`Nature of Photonics
`
`Cesari and McKenna - Behind every bright
`idea is a plan to protect it, legally, from your
`competitors. But as everyone knows — not
`all plans, like bright ideas themselves, are as
`good as the next.
`Gerald R. Prettyman
`
`httpzawww.:teverltart.com
`
`http:1/ipatctttattonteyorg
`
`htlp_flwww.chrvslliouip.cgm.au
`
`ht
`
`: www.nztture.com
`
`http:[[www,bostonpalen1law,cgm
`
`hltQ:[[gotabtigl_ttidca.com
`
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`
`11/22/2013
`
`1II25f20I3
`
`II/25/2013
`
`II/25/2013
`
`I I/25/20l3
`
`I 1/25/2013
`
`I5
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`I 1/25/2013
`
`All
`
`1 I/25/2013
`
`ll/25/2013
`
`II/25/2013
`
`5/24/2007
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`ROBINSON
`EX. I42
`ROBINSON
`EX. I43
`
`ROBINSON
`EX. I44
`ROBINSON
`EX. I45
`ROBINSON
`EX. I 46
`ROBINSON
`EX. I 47
`ROBINSON
`EX. 148
`ROBINSON
`EX.I49
`ROBINSON
`EX. I50
`ROBINSON
`EX.151
`ROBINSON
`EX. I52
`ROBINSON
`EX. I53
`ROBINSON
`EX. I54
`ROBINSON
`EX. I 55
`ROBINSON
`EX.156
`ROBINSON
`EX.l57
`ROBINSON
`EX.l58
`
`Mark T. Rasich - Co-Presenter, "Protecting
`Your Bright Idea: Intellectual Property
`Protection," Salt Lake City, Utah, May 24,
`2007
`Western IP Law
`
`Calculated Industries
`
`California SBDC
`
`l1ttp:[/www.stoeI.com
`
`http‘[[uspatcntlaw.us
`
`ht1p:[[www.ca1culated.com
`
`http:[[smallbizla.org
`
`Stinson Morrison Hecker - Bright Idea
`Breakfast
`Waddey Patterson
`
`ht§p_s:[/www.stlrtsmt gum
`
`l1tlp:[[iglawgroup.com
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`11/25/2013
`
`II/25/2013
`
`I I/25/ZOI3
`
`I 1/25/2013
`
`11/25/2013
`
`Chicago Tribune
`
`Innovate ND
`
`httpzdarticlcs.chicagotrihune.com
`
`htm:[[innovatend.wordpre§s.com
`
`4/I 9/I 990
`
`11/25/2013
`
`3/ I 7/201 I
`
`ll/25/2013
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`I
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion. generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`
`Srnithsonianls Lemelson Center
`
`
`
`Aiello Design
`
`Vegas Inc.
`
`htt2.£t'’~
`
`hltp:/(www.vegasinc.com
`
`World Intellectual Property Org.
`
`httg:{[www.wipg.inl
`
`World Intellectual Property Org.
`
`Harrang Long
`
`Bright Ideas - Facebook
`
`Stok Folk
`
`http:[[www.wim.int
`
`hlt
`
`: harra
`
`.com
`
`https:{[www.facebggk.gom
`
`lttt
`
`I www.stoklaw.com
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`Apr-06
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`Page I of 2
`
`I I/25/2013
`
`11/25/2013
`
`11/25/2013
`
`All
`
`ll/25/2013
`
`I ll25/2013
`
`l1l25/2013
`
`1 1/25/2013
`
`I I/25/2013
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`

`
`General relevance
`
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion. generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion. generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`Likelihood of confusion, generic, use in
`marketplace, cancellation
`
`Page(s) to
`
`B A
`
`ll
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`All
`
`Exhibit
`
`Title
`
`INDEX TO EXHIBITS - APPLICANT‘S NOTICE OF RELIANCE
`EXHIBITS 129 - 170
`Source
`Document
`Date
`
`Date
`Agcegsed
`
`ROBINSON
`EX. 159
`ROBINSON
`EX. I60
`ROBINSON
`EX. I 61
`ROBINSON
`EX. 162
`ROBINSON
`EX.163
`ROBINSON
`EX.164
`ROBINSON
`EX.165
`ROBINSON
`BX. 167
`ROBINSON
`EX. 168
`ROBINSON
`EX. I69
`ROBINSON
`EX. I 70
`
`Central Region Innovation and
`Commercialization Center
`Bright Spot Solutions
`
`httpgzzwww.bu§ksforbrightideas.com
`
`hit:
`
`ri hls
`
`lsol
`
`iotrs.com
`
`Bright Ideas Agency
`
`http:([\vww.thebrightideasagencgxom
`
`Jeffereson lab
`
`Micheal Gelb
`
`The New Inventors
`
`ht_tp5:[[www.jlab,org
`
`hlt
`
`: mic ael
`
`'lb.com
`
`www.abc.nct.au
`
`Harvard - Helping Brigtt Ideas Shine Again lttggsgg/www.alumni.hbs.edu
`
`Altruistic Apps
`
`ht
`
`:I wwwaltruisti -21
`
`s lc.cnm
`
`Willmann - Specializing in the protection of hlgQ:[[cincinna1igatet11,ggm
`your bright ideas
`Growth Engine - Bright Ideas: The Game of
`Inventing
`Bright Ideas Consulting
`
`http:([l_2rightideasfirm.com
`
`ltllp:[[www.growth-cngjnc.com
`
`n/a
`
`nla
`
`nla
`
`11/a
`
`ll/25f2013
`
`11/25/2013
`
`11/25/2013
`
`I 1/25/2013
`
`Nov-07
`
`11/25/2013
`
`na
`
`I 1/25/2013
`
`I ll I5/2013
`
`I 1/25/2013
`
`n/a
`
`n/a
`
`nla
`
`1 1/25/2013
`
`II./25/2013
`
`11/25/2013
`
`Sec document
`
`11/25/2013
`
`Page 2 of 2
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A Resource Tool for Businesses and Inventors
`
`
`
`Prepared by the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC),
`a business development service of The University of North Carolina system
` operated in partnership with the US Small Business Administration (SBA).
`
`
`
`

`
`
`This publication is provided by the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center. It is
`intended for the independent inventor or small company with little knowledge of how to develop new ideas into
`licensable patents or commercial products. In this guide, we try to answer the most common questions and
`provide guidance on commercializing an invention. In addition, this guide includes information about
`trademarks and copyrights.
`
`
`
`Editor:
`
`
`
`
`
`Edited by:
`
`
`
`
`
`Published by:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Shayne E. O’Reilly
`SBTDC Spring Extern (2006)
`The University of North Carolina School of Law
`
`John A. Craichy
`Scott Daugherty
`Ron Ilinitch
`
`University of North Carolina Press, Copyright © 2006 Small Business
` and Technology Development Center; all rights reserved.
`
`This booklet is designed to provide useful information and is provided to the reader with the
`understanding that neither the author, editors, nor the publisher is engaged in rendering paid legal,
`financial, or professional advice. If such expert assistance is required, the services of a competent
`professional should be sought. The information provided does not constitute specific recommendations
`to be used for decision-making purposes by the individual reader.
`
`This work is partially supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration through Cooperative Agreement
`#SB-2M-00110-15. Any options, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are
`those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.....................................................................................................................….
`
`
`Introduction
`
`1. General Patent Information
`..........................................................................................
`What is a patent
`........................................................................................................…………..
`Patent contents
`........................................................................................................…………..
`Obtaining a Patent ........................................................................................................…………..
`Conditions for a patent
`..........................................................................................................
`Who may obtain a patent
`........................................................................................…………..
`When a patent may be obtained
`..........................................................................................
`Ownership and sale of patent rights
`.....................................................................………….....
`
`2. Determining Whether to Patent .........................................................................................
`9
`9
`Perform a patent search
`.........................................................................................................
`10
`Will your invention sell?...............................................................................................……..........
`11
`Evaluate marketability
`.........................................................................................................
`Confidential Disclosure Agreements ......................................................................................... 12
`Protecting the invention while assessing marketability
`............................................……….
`12
`
`3. Pursuing a Patent
`..........................................................................................................
`Retain a patent attorney/agent .......................................................................................…………...
`Drawings .............................................................................................................………….............
`Reduce idea to practice: Prototypes
`.......................................................................…………...
`Product testing
`.......................................................................................................…………...
`Filing the patent application
`.......................................................................................…………...
`Process at the Patent and Trademark Office
`..........................................................................
`Estimated patent costs and time
`..........................................................................................
`Funding a patent
`........................................................................................................…………..
`Enforcing patent rights
`...........................................................................................................
`What to do after getting a patent
`...........................................................................................
`
`4. Patent Assignments & Licensing Agreements
`...................……………………......... 20
`What is a patent assignment? ........................................................................................………….... 20
`What is a license?
`.......................................................................................................…………..... 20
`Pros and cons
`...........................................................................................................................
`20
`Selecting the right licensee
`......................................................................................………….....
`20
`Contacting the company
`...........................................................................................................
`21
`Initial presentation .......................................................................................................…………....
`21
`Negotiating the license agreement
`...........................................................................................
`21
`What to expect after signing ........................................................................................…………...
`22
`
`5. Starting Your Own Business
` .............................................…………………….............
`Start-up capital
`...........................................................................................................................
`Marketing Issues …………...........................................................................................................
`The Internet
`............................................................………............……...............................
`Registration and Licensing……………………………………..………………………………….
`Other considerations …………………………………………………………………………..
`
`6. Financial and Market Research ………..........................................................................
`Marketing research ..........................................................………….................................................
`Financial research ..........................................................…………...........................................…..
`Analyzing the results
`...........................................................................................................
`
`
`5
`
`6
`6
`6
`7
`7
`8
`8
`8
`
`15
`15
`15
`15
`16
`17
`17
`18
`18
`18
`19
`
`23
`23
`23
`23
`24
`24
`
`25
`25
`26
`26
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`
`Invention Promotion Firms
`
`............................................................................................ 32
`
`7. Trademarks & Copyrights
`27
` .............................................…………………….............
`27
`Trademarks
`..........................................................………….................................................
`27
`Trademark notice
`..........................................................…………...........................................…..
`27
`Trademark benefits ......................................................................................................................
`27
`Trademark benefits ......................................................................................................................
`State v. Federal trademarks
`..........................................................…………................................. 27
`Length of trademark protection ......................................................…………............................... 27
`Selecting a trademark
`...........................................................................................................
`28
`Trademark registration requirements ...............................................…………............................... 28
`Trademark search
` ......................................................…………...........................................….. 28
`Estimate trademark costs
`............................................................................................................ 29
`Applying for trademark registration ....................................................………….......................... 29
`Copyright protection
`..........................................................………….................................. 30
`Copyright notices
` .................................................................................................................... 30
`Copyright ownership .....................................................…………................................................ 31
`Copyright endurance .....................................................…………...........................................…. 31
`Obtaining copyright protection
`............................................................................................. 31
`
`8.
`
`9. Special Inventor Assistance & Resources ............................................................................. 34
`Wal-Mart Innovation Network (WIN)
`.......................................................................…………...... 34
`Support American Made......................................................................................................……....... 34
`Wisconsin Innovation Service Center (WISC)
`..........................................................………….. 34
`Inventions and Innovation Program
`......................................................................…………...... 35
`
`............................................................................................ 36
`10. Final Thoughts for Inventors
`Avoiding tunnel vision
`............................................................................................................. 36
`Assessment of resources
`............................................................................................................. 36
`Have we scared you off?
`............................................................................................................. 36
`
`............................................................................................................................. 37
`Appendices
`............................................................................................................................. 37
`Vocabulary List
`Most Often Asked Questions ............................................................................................................. 38
`Helpful Contacts
`............................................................................................................................. 40
`Free or Inexpensive Publications
`............................................................................................. 41
`Other Recommended Readings
`............................................................................................. 44
`Internet Sources of Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Information
`............................................. 45
`N.C. Patent Attorneys & Agents
`............................................................................................. 46
`Sample Confidentiality Agreement (for product development assistance)......................................... 81
`Sample Confidentiality Agreement (prospective licensing companies).............................................. 83
`Associations
`......................................................................................................…………....... 85
`Finding necessary goods and services ……………………………………………………………. 87
`General Business Information and Assistance Resources
`............................................................. 88
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`This Intellectual Property Guide is intended to help small businesses and inventors in the development of their
`inventions and in the maintenance of their intellectual property rights. Maybe you’ve already developed an
`invention. What will you do next? Apply for a patent? Contact manufacturers? Start manufacturing it
`yourself? These questions must be carefully considered in order to get the full benefit of the efforts put into
`developing an invention. The purpose of this guide is not to discourage you from proceeding with any
`particular option, but to educate you about different ways to proceed with your idea and the potential time and
`financial investments that may be involved. This guide will educate you about patents and provide helpful
`references and sources of assistance that you may need in order to be successful. We emphasize the utilization
`of resources at local libraries, universities, and on the Internet. In addition, this guide explores trademark and
`copyright issues and the protection of internet domain names.
`
`The truth is there are lots of new ideas out there, but only about one patent out of a hundred is commercially
`successful. Although utility patents and plant patents last 20 years from the date of filing the patent application
`and design patents last 14 years from the grant of the patent, a new product may only have a few years of
`commercial life before a better invention replaces it. Usually, this means there is little time to recoup the
`financial investment made developing and patenting the invention. This financial investment typically includes
`thousands of dollars spent developing prototypes and obtaining patent protection. Other costs, such as
`manufacturing and marketing costs, may increase this financial investment by tens of thousands of dollars.
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`It’s one thing to invent for fun, it’s an entirely different matter to obtain a patent, sell the product to a company,
`and/or start a business based on the invention. Proceeding with any of these options can quickly become time
`consuming, costly and overwhelming. In order to be successful, you must be prepared to accept the
`responsibilities and challenges that arise.
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` trademark is used to protect recognizable names for a good or service. Early registration is encouraged in
`order to be certain that others can be prevented from using the same name or a similar name to reap the benefits
`of your product or service’s good reputation. Copyright protection is available by Federal laws for literary,
`dramatic, computer software, musical, artistic, and other intellectual works of authorship. Although federal
`copyright protection is automatically granted once the work is put in a “fixed form,” the registrant of a
`copyrighted work will receive other legal rights plus better proof of the time of authorship. This guide also
`explains how to register internet domain names.
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`The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center’s Intellectual Property Guide is
`intended for the independent inventor or small company with little knowledge of how to develop ideas into
`licensable patents or commercial products. In this booklet, we try to answer the most common questions and
`provide guidance on commercializing an invention.
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`What is a patent?
`The patent owner has, for a limited time, the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or
`selling the patented invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States.
`Additionally, in the case of patented processes, discussed below, the patent owner has the right to exclude
`others from using, offering for sale or selling throughout the United States, or importing into the United States,
`products made by that process. There are three different types of patents:
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`Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents a process, machine, article of manufacture, or
`composition of matter that is new, nonobvious and useful. In addition, utility patents may be granted
`on any new and useful improvement of a process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of
`matter. Machines, articles of manufacture, and compositions of matter are easy to recognize. They are
`things such as pencil sharpeners, engines, computers, and chemicals. A process is more difficult to
`recognize. For example, this can be a surgical procedure or a process for manufacturing a chemical. A
`process patent may also be granted on a new way to use unpatentable material. Utility patents are
`granted for a term beginning on the date the patent issues and ends twenty years from the filing date.
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`Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an
`article of manufacture. It only protects the appearance of an article, not its structure or utilitarian
`features; for example, a design patent could protect the appearance of a piece of furniture, but not its
`structure. These patents are granted for a term of 14 years beginning on the date the patent issues.
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`Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any
`distinct and new variety of plant. Plant patents will not be granted for a tuber propagated or a plant
`found in an uncultivated state; for example, no patents are granted for potatoes or for a plant found in
`the wilderness. Plant patents are granted for a term that begins on the date the patent issues and ends
`twenty years from the filing date. As with utility patents, term extensions may be granted in certain
`instances.
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`For certain delays attributable to the PTO, the term of the patent may be extended, but in no case will such an
`extension be more than 5 years. Generally, a patent affords protection against infringement only within the
`jurisdiction of the government by which it is issued. Therefore, it is necessary to take out a patent in each
`country for which patent protection is desired by using the proper steps for international patenting.
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`Patent contents
`Every patent contains: (1) a short title of the invention; (2) a grant to the patentee, his/her heirs, of the right to
`exclude others from making, using, offering for sale or selling the invention throughout the United States or
`importing the invention into the United States (in the case of a process patent: the right to exclude others from
`using, offering for sale or selling throughout the United States, or importing into the United States, products
`made by that process); (3) a specification; and (4) drawing(s), if necessary.
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`The specification is essentially a description of the invention. The specification must contain: (1) a detailed
`description of the invention; (2) claims to the invention; (3) abstract of the disclosure; and (4) oath or
`declaration. The application must state particularly what the inventor believes the invention is. An application
`must contain sufficient detail for a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention. The best mode
`requirement requires the inventor to disclose the best mode of carrying out the invention known to him or her at
`the time of filing. Therefore, you can not obtain a valid patent if you have withheld a better version of the
`invention.
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`The claims are the most important part of the patent application. They set forth the exact bounds of the
`invention in much the same way a property deed sets forth the exact bounds of a plot of land. Thus, the claims
`describe the perimeter of the invention.
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`The oath or declaration must be signed by the inventor stating that: (1) they believe themselves to be the true,
`original and first inventor(s); (2) they have reviewed and understand the contents of the application; and (3)
`they acknowledge their duty to disclose all information known to be material to patentability of the application.
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`Obtaining a patent
`Patents are obtained by filing an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in Alexandria,
`VA. The application is then examined by a specially trained PTO examiner who grants the patent if the
`requirements are met. The process of obtaining a patent is described in detail in Chapter 3.
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`Conditions for a patent
`As stated previously, a utility patent must be novel, useful, and nonobvious. Design and plant patents have
`slightly different requirements that are beyond the scope of this guide.
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`Novelty – An invention must be novel in order to be patented. That is, a patent is barred if the
`invention has been anticipated by certain events that may occur prior to invention or the filing of an
`application. Such events are prior art. Prior art may be an act – an offer for sale, a use of the
`invention, a prior invention, or it may be a document – a prior foreign patent or publication, or it may
`be a United States patent. Such prior art can prevent you from obtaining a patent only if it is the same
`as the claimed invention (i.e., it has all the elements and limitations of a given claim; claims are
`discussed below).
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`Statutory bar focuses on events that may occur more than one year prior to the inventor’s patent
`application and which, if they do, prohibit a patent grant. But after that one year grace period,
`statutory bar occurs and the inventor(s) loses the right to a patent. Anticipation events, defined by the
`novelty provisions, have no such grace period; if an anticipation occurs prior to invention, the inventor
`simply has no right to a patent.
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`Following are the events raising statutory bar, if they occur more than one year prior to application:
`Domestic (Acts within the U.S.): Prior patent by anyone, printed publication, p