ou’ve spent a lot of money developing and building your new product. You got a utility patent around it. And it’s unique design stands out from the competition. Then a product appears with a similar look to yours. The value of your new invention takes a nose dive as you realize too late you failed to register a trade dress to further protect the unique look of your product.
Design patents cover how something looks – its specific shape or configuration. Design patents are used in a variety of industries such as jewelry, clothing, furniture, beverages, shoes, computers, clothing, automakers and others. Some brands, such as Gucci, have been obtaining design patents for decades. Design patents are often at […]
Even if you are “commercializing” your IP by selling your product or services, you can be overlooking its value. Your IP can help establish creditworthiness and can qualify you to get bank financing to expand or launch a business. This strategy is used by both companies with well-known brands (i.e. […]
Today’s smart business operators are including a licensing program as part of their business strategy. It’s a strategy you can use to expand your business quickly. Rather than spending the time and money to create and promote new products or services, you can put your IP assets to work generating […]
This is part 3 of our series on unconventional trademarks. In this article, we look at trademarked scents (click these links to view the previous articles on Color and Sound trademarks). The limitation of scents identifiable by most people is why a scent mark is so potentially valuable. Unlike images, […]
