Patent Attorney – "Pat. Pend."

Category: Featured

  • Mark Trenner Presenting At Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute Event

    Mark Trenner, Colorado patent attorney at Trenner Law Firm, will give a presentation at the University of Denver campus Day Of Service volunteer event sponsored by the Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute on Saturday, November 12, 2011. Learn more about the Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute.

    More details below . . .

    Title: Every business has an IP Portfolio – Learn how to build, protect, and monetize your IP Portfolio.

    Summary: Starting a business . . . what will your intellectual property (IP) portfolio look like? Think you won’t have one . . . think again. Do you plan to offer a product or service for sale? Do you plan to have a website or at least a brochure? Do you plan to have a customer list? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will have an IP portfolio. So what can you do to protect your IP portfolio? Don’t say it’s too expensive. Come to this presentation, and you will (1) learn to identify at least 2-3 types of IP every business has whether they know it or not, (2) learn fast, free, and inexpensive ways to protect this IP and build your own IP portfolio, and (3) understand how your IP portfolio adds real value to the bottom line of your business, whether you are looking for financing, venture capital, a business partner, or eventual sale of your business.

    Contact Mark Trenner if you are interested having him speak with your business or group.

  • Patent Attorney Colorado Q & A Part 5

    Patent Attorney Colorado Q & A Part 5

    Patent Attorney Colorado Q & A Part 5

    Okay, if my invention is new and not obvious, what then?

    You have a couple of options. You can file a provisional patent application, or you can file a regular patent application for your invention.

    What is a provisional patent application?

    A provisional patent application is a patent application that describes your invention in words and optionally with drawings or pictures, and when filed with the United States Patent Office, receives a serial number and a filing date. On the same day that you file your provisional patent application with the United States Patent Office, you can mark your invention (brochures describing your invention, etc.) with the words “Patent Pending” (or “Pat. Pend.” for short).

    Then what’s the difference between a provisional patent application and a regular patent application?

    A provisional patent application is never examined by the U.S. Patent Office and automatically goes abandoned after one year from the filing date.

    If a provisional patent application goes abandoned after only one year, why would I file one

    Your budget (or lack of a budget) is probably the number one reason to opt for filing a provisional patent application. In general, provisional patent applications cost significantly less than filing a regular patent application. There are no formal requirements for a provisional patent application, like there are for a regular patent application. So in general, it takes a patent attorney more time to prepare a regular patent application than it takes to prepare a basic provisional patent application. It’s the old adage that “Time Is Money.”

    If you can’t afford to file a regular patent application just yet, but you don’t want to lose rights to your invention, consider filing a less expensive provisional patent application. Then when you have money from sales of your invention, or investors lined up, you can better afford to file a regular patent application.

    For more information on Mark Trenner’s Colorado Patent law firm, follow this link:

    Patent Attorney Colorado

  • Interview with patent attorney Mark Trenner

    Interview with patent attorney Mark Trenner

    How do I know if I should apply for a patent for my invention?

    You can’t apply for a patent for something that already exists. So start with a prior art search. While you can do your own search online, a good prior art search is more than just a stack of references. Patent attorney Mark Trenner can analyze those references and explain how your invention might be patentable, or not, so you can decide whether it is worth spending money on a patent application.

    If my invention seems to be patentable, how soon should I apply for a patent?

    In the US, inventors have one year from any publication, public use, public disclosure, or sale or offer for sale of their invention in which to file a patent application. After one year, the invention is considered public domain. Of course, it is best to at least file a provisional patent application as soon as possible. In fact, some countries require that a patent application be on file before any public disclosure of the invention. Patent attorney Mark Trenner can prepare and file a good provisional patent application fairly quickly and relatively inexpensively . . . so why wait!

    Do I need to hire a patent attorney?

    You can file your own patent application, just like you can represent yourself in court. But a patent attorney can help spot issues an individual inventor might miss. By the time the Patent Office Examiner raises these issues, it may be too late to correct some mistakes and an inventor can lose important rights to their invention. Mistakes that can be corrected, often end up costing more than if the inventor had just worked with a patent attorney from the beginning.

    Isn’t using a patent attorney going to be expensive?

    Some patent attorneys are expensive. And there’s also the perception that cost is somehow tied to quality, as in you have to pay a lot for quality. But that’s not always the case. Patent attorney Mark Trenner has over 10 years experience helping clients ranging from individuals to large corporations protect their inventions with patents. Most patent services are offered on a flat-fee basis so clients always know the total price of a project up-front.

    What if I don’t have time to meet with a patent attorney?

    In addition to Trenner Law Firm’s traditional law firm format, Trenner Law Firm also offers an online option where everything is handled over the phone and via email. Patent attorney Mark Trenner is also available through the online law firm by phone and email outside of normal business hours. Not only is this more convenient for the clients, but by not having to meet individually with all clients, Trenner Law is able to offer significant discounts through the online law firm.

    How do I get started?

    Call patent attorney Mark Trenner today at 720-221-3708 for a free phone consultation. Special discounts available through the online law firm option, with patent services starting as low as $250. Call or visit online today to learn more.