Patents

The Framers of the US Constitution made sure that Congress would be given the power to enact laws to protect inventors and artists. 

The grant of a patent by the US government provides the patentee with the legal right to prevent others from making, using, and importing the invention for the length of the patent term.

At present, the term for a utility patent is measured as twenty years from the effective filing date of the patent application.  

To be patentable, an invention must be new, useful, and nonobvious.  A "new" (or novel) invention is one which no one else previously thought of. "Useful" refers to the invention having some use.  "Nonobvious" refers to the requirement that the inventiveness involved be more than merely that of the skilled artisan of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

To assess whether the inventor has at least invented something "new", it is recommended that a novelty search be performed.  Although this is not required by the Patent Office, it can often be highly useful in determining whether to go forward and/or how to modify/present the application to the Patent Office in view of the prior art.

After the patent application is filed with the appropriate filing fee and papers, an examiner at the Patent Office examines the patent application and communicates with the applicant with respect to whether the application is allowable.  Very often, this process -- called "patent prosecution" -- can take several years and additional cost.  However, an experienced patent attorney can guide you through the process. 

Please see our fee schedule to get an understanding of the fees which you may incur.  Unlike many other law firms, particularly large law firms, we do not bill by the hour.  Instead, we determine a fixed fee for the work based on the complexity and expected effort for the project.

To contact us regarding our services, please call 1-480-899-3021 or provide your contact information to info@patentaz.com, and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Copyright ｩ 2009-2010 Morgan Law Offices, PLC.  All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this web site is not legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Nothing on this site is intended to create or promote an attorney-client relationship. Intellectual property law is constantly evolving. We can not guarantee that all information contained in this web site is up to date. Note that merely contacting us or discussing your situation with us over the phone or in person does not create an attorney-client relationship. Patent services performed by George D. Morgan, Esq., registered patent attorney no. 46,505.  4635 S Lakeshore Drive, Tempe, Arizona, 85282.  (480) 899-3021.  e-mail:  info@patentaz.com.