A slash signature (S-signature) is a simple-to-implement electronic signature that you can use to sign documents submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in lieu of a handwritten signature. The slash signature is your name inserted between forward slash marks. Your slash signature would be /[your name]/. That's it. It's so simple. The slash signature is … [Read more...]
What is a trademark watch service?
A trademark watch service (aka trademark monitoring service) is a proactive monitoring service that helps protect a company's trademark rights. It involves regularly monitoring trademark databases and other sources to identify any new trademark applications or registrations that may be similar or potentially infringing on your existing registered trademarks. The watch service … [Read more...]
How to Fill out a Nonpublication Request Form for Your Patent Application
We're going to discuss the Nonpublication Request. Without this request, your patent application will be published about 18 months after the earliest priority date. Upon filing the request, the Patent Office will keep your patent application secret until it's granted as a patent. We're going to discuss: What is a Nonpublication Request? How to fill out the various … [Read more...]
How to Fill out a Declaration of Utility or Design Application Form for Your Patent
The declaration is one of the forms submitted with a patent application. We will explain how to fill out the declaration for your utility or design patent application. The declaration isn't necessary to fill out when you file your provisional patent application but it is a good thing to file it anyways. Also, the declaration isn't necessary to have file when you file your … [Read more...]
How to Fill out an After Final Consideration Pilot Program Request Form with the USPTO
In this blog post, I will explain how to fill out a Certification and Request for Consideration under the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 form. Please note that the AFCP request form is very easy to fill out. It's self-explanatory. The more difficult question is how you get your response to be considered under the AFCP program. We will be discussing these things … [Read more...]
How to Fill out a Provisional Patent Application Cover Sheet
The provisional patent application cover sheet is a form that you file with the specification and drawings of your patent application. It's a request (see snippet below) for filing your application as a provisional application. You can find the form here. Also, you can find all of the patent forms here. The provisional patent application cover sheet is filed when … [Read more...]
How to broadly protect your invention with a patent?
Are you an inventor who has come up with a unique idea that you want to protect? If so, it's essential to understand how to protect your invention broadly to prevent others from designing around your patent. The patent process can be complex. At any step along the way, you could make a mistake that would cause you to lose or jeopardize your patent protection. However, with the … [Read more...]
Should you protect your idea with a patent or trade secret?
Have you come up with a brilliant idea or invention that you want to protect? As an innovator, it's crucial to understand the different options for securing your intellectual property. Two common types of intellectual property for protecting your idea our patents and trade secrets. But how do you decide which intellectual property is the best for you? In this article, we'll … [Read more...]