Intellectual Property (IP) is the lifeblood of innovation and creativity. From groundbreaking technologies to unique branding and artistic works, IP encompasses the intangible assets that define a company’s value in today’s competitive marketplace. These assets—whether inventions, logos, designs, or proprietary concepts—are critical to your business’s success, and safeguarding them is key to maintaining your competitive edge.
At Patent and Trademark Agency, we specialize in helping businesses navigate the complex world of IP. We understand that securing and managing IP rights can be a daunting, time-consuming task. Missteps, missed deadlines, or errors in the process can lead to the forfeiture of valuable assets. That’s why we are here: to offer the strategic insight, expert guidance, and innovative tools needed to protect what you’ve worked tirelessly to create.
With a deep expertise in both technology and law, our team is equipped to guide your company through the intricacies of patent registration, trademark protection, and IP dispute resolution. We pride ourselves on offering practical, results-driven solutions to ensure your intellectual property remains safe, secure, and primed for long-term growth.
Let us help you turn your creative ideas into protected assets, so you can focus on what matters most—driving innovation and building a sustainable future. Let Patent and Trademark Agency be your dedicated partner in safeguarding the intellectual property that defines your business and securing a prosperous future for your innovations.
Trademark Registration & Enforcement
Protect your brand identity with trademark registration and vigilant monitoring to ensure your intellectual property rights are respected.
Trade Secret Protection
We help businesses maintain confidentiality and protect proprietary information with strong trade secret strategies and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
IP Due Diligence & Valuation
Assess the value of your intellectual property for mergers, acquisitions, and investment purposes, with thorough due diligence to mitigate risk.
A patent is an official legal document granted by the government that gives an inventor the exclusive right to make, use, sell, or import an invention. This protection usually lasts for 20 years from the date the patent application is filed, and during that time, no one else can use the invention without the owner's permission. Once granted, a patent is assumed valid under the law and becomes a powerful business asset, helping protect innovative ideas and maintain a competitive edge.
However, inventors must meet important deadlines to avoid losing their rights. For example, in the U.S., an inventor must file a patent application within one year of making the invention public or offering it for sale. Missing this deadline means losing the right to patent the invention. That’s why inventors should use legal protections, like non-disclosure agreements, before revealing their invention to others (such as manufacturers or investors).
Trademark Overview
Trademark rights are acquired either through actual use in commerce or by filing an intent-to-use application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Once in use, the owner has exclusive rights to the trademark in connection with the goods or services it identifies. Like with copyright, federal registration isn't required to enforce a trademark, but registering provides extra benefits, such as nationwide protection and legal presumptions of ownership.
Importantly, a trademark can lose its protection if it becomes generic (e.g., if consumers start using it as a common name for a product or service). Before selecting a trademark, it's advisable to search both federal and state trademark databases to make sure no similar marks already exist. If a similar trademark is found, it’s best to choose a different one to avoid potential legal conflicts or infringement claims.
Trademark Maintenance and Renewal
Trademark rights can expire if the mark is not used for a continuous period of two years. Therefore, ongoing use is critical to maintain rights.To keep a federally registered trademark active, the owner must file renewal documents at the following times:
Initial Renewal: Between the 5th and 6th years after the registration date. If approved, the registration remains valid for the remainder of the initial ten-year term.
Subsequent Renewals: Must be filed between the 9th and 10th years, and then every ten years thereafter.
A six-month grace period is available after each deadline, but it requires an additional fee.
The renewal process generally involves:
Receiving a reminder notice from the Patent and Trademark Agency.
Signing and returning the notice using the pre-paid envelope.
Receiving and paying the invoice for the renewal fees.
Trademark is renewed upon successful payment.
Missing a renewal deadline can result in the cancellation of the trademark, requiring the owner to go through the registration process again from the beginning.
Copyright gives the creator of an original literary, scientific, or artistic work the exclusive legal right to reproduce, distribute, and publicly display their work. Although registering a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office (part of the Library of Congress) is not mandatory, it is necessary if you intend to bring a lawsuit for copyright infringement.
Copyright applies to original works of authorship such as books, music, and artwork. Federal registration offers significant benefits, including the ability to file suit in federal court and seek statutory damages.
To register a copyright, an application must be filed with the U.S. Copyright Office. This includes a detailed description of the work, a copy of the work itself, and payment of a filing fee. After review, if the work meets the necessary criteria, the Copyright Office will issue a registration certificate. This certificate serves as initial legal proof of the copyright’s validity and the claims made in the application.
Trade Secret Overview
A trade secret is any confidential business information that holds commercial value and is kept private through reasonable efforts. This could be a formula, process, method, device, or compilation of information that gives a business a competitive edge.
Unlike patents or copyrights, trade secrets are not registered. Their legal protection depends on maintaining secrecy. Once the information becomes public or is no longer protected, the trade secret status is lost.
Businesses typically safeguard trade secrets using confidentiality agreements, limited access to sensitive information, and post-employment restrictions. These strategies are crucial to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure.
- Global IP ExpertiseSafeguarding your intellectual property is essential to protecting your business assets and maintaining a competitive advantage. At Patent and Trademark Agency, we’re committed to helping you take the right steps to secure your IP and strengthen your market position.
- Why IP Protection mattersIn today’s global economy, businesses need expert legal guidance in intellectual property. We offer deep knowledge of international IP trends and a network of technical experts to support clients worldwide. IP protection is key to preserving brand identity, boosting revenue, and driving innovation. Our team is committed to assisting clients throughout the process— from registration to enforcement.
- Comprehensive IP SupportReach out to Patent and Trademark Agency today to find out how we can support and protect your intellectual property effectively and affordably.
165 Broadway
23rd Floor, One Liberty Plaza
New York, NY 10006
United States of America
Phone: 646 494 2575
E-mail: info@patentandtrademarkagency.com