Patent Law in Hartford, CT

Between 2007 and 2013, over 12,000 patents were filed in Connecticut alone. Hartford is home to many great entrepreneurs and inventors, but they share one facet in common; they each need the protection offered by filing a patent. Protecting your intellectual property assures that no one can misuse or abuse the things that you have created.

What Is a Patent?

Patent law covers the many aspects of securing a patent. There are many legalities to understand, from copyrighting products and advertising, to the Lanham Act. Basically, a patent is a legal protection you secure through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, (USPTO), under intellectual property laws. A patent guarantees the exclusive right to use your intellectual property. It also helps enforce that no other person can make or profit off of something for which you have a patent.

Hartford inventors will most likely have to file their patent applications with the East Regional Office of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Not only can you file your application here, but the USPTO is a vital resource for those wishing to bring their intellectual property to the market. They provide workshops and intensives, promote networking between inventors and entrepreneurs, and even document research facilities you can use when going through the patent process.

What Are the Types of Patents?

There are three different types of patents inventors can apply for. Each patent has stipulations and serves a different purpose.

• Utility Patent – This is the most common type of patent. It is for new machines, processes/functions, and chemicals.
• Design Patent – These patents are for securing a unique and new design of a manufactured item. Design patents protect from entities trying to capitalize on an invention by replicating and producing it.
• Plant Patent – These types of patents are specifically for the invention of new plant varieties. The process must include asexual reproduction, meaning by means other than seeds.

What Can You Patent?

In reality, not everything you create qualifies for patenting. There are only certain types of intellectual property that fall under patent protection. Other intellectual property rights cover different creations. Here is a look at the types of inventions you can patent.

• Process – Also referred to as a method, this is a new way of doing something. 
• Machine – This is any material thing or device that has some sort of output, whether functionality or physical object.
• Manufacture – This is the creation of a physical object.
• Composition of matter – This is a mixture of chemical or biological compounds to create something new.

You can apply for a patent for whichever new device, method, or compound you create by applying to the USPTO. Once they accept your patent application and approve it, you have exclusivity rights to the invention for the next 20 years. However, a design patent period lasts for 14 years.

Difference Between a Provisional and Non-Provisional Patent

Hartford, CT inventors often file a provisional patent first, which is like a way of buying time to finalize an invention. Provisional patents last for a year, and the application process is simple. Once you file a provisional patent, you have exactly a year to convert it to a non-provisional patent. The latter is just another name for the formal and final patent.

How to Apply for a Patent in Hartford CT

The process of applying for a patent in Hartford, Connecticut is complex and detailed. You must meet all the requirements and submit every required piece of documentation to secure your patent. You must file your application with the USPTO.

211 Connecticut offers insight as to how to go about the patent process for those living in Hartford. To qualify for a patent your work must be:

• New

• Useful

• Non-obvious

• Eligible

The Connecticut State Library, as well as the Judicial Law Library, can provide you with invaluable research resources. Still, it may be the best course of action to hire a Hartford patent attorney to help you with the research and filing. Mistakes and missteps can set patents back for months. This only increases the chances that someone else could patent a similar invention before you do.

When Should I Hire a Qualified Hartford, Connecticut Patent Lawyer?

There are multiple reasons to hire a patent attorney. If you want the assurance of having someone acting on your behalf, then Hartford patent law lawyers can help you. He or she can assist with every step of the filing process and ensure that you include all the required information. Additionally, they may be able to guide you when it comes to navigating consumer laws, as well as help you avoid false advertising. This can prove especially valuable if you are trying to merge, or transform your invention into a business.

FOX 61 reports that certain local Hartford businesses are fighting back against questionable patent suits. Increasingly for businesses in Connecticut, there has been a flood of patent suits which eat up time and money from the company. While larger conglomerates might be able to survive such behavior, smaller companies can not. A local Hartford photography company is challenging the legitimacy of a patent suit filed against it. In a situation such as this, an experienced patent attorney could prove most beneficial.

Work with an Experienced Local Patent Attorney in Hartford, Connecticut

A patent attorney provides a great service in assisting with securing and managing your patent. You should meet with a qualified Hartford attorney to discuss how he or she can help you. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Connecticut state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an attorney in your area!