Can I patent an item that I have been selling on eBay? I have applied for a provisional patent.

You can still apply for a U.S. patent. I have colleagues in our New York office who could assist you.

Best way for a software start-up to approach patents while marketing an innovative product?

1. Keep it a secret. 2. For anyone who needs to know, make them FIRST sign a comprehensive and mutual non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement...

Get permission first. You may be able to get advice and guidance from the CLA (link below) about your plans. I recently worked with a radio...

How distinguishable does a name need to be so it is not infringing on another trademarked name?

There are many, many factors to consider when evaluating whether one trademark is confusingly similar to another. For example, personal names are a...

Can a certification process I've created be considered a product and thereby be eligible for patent protection?

Patent protection might be available. Remember, you must file an application within 1 year of the first non-confidential disclosure or public use...

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Brand name I'm planning to use is similar to existing brand but they aren't trademarked. Can they sue me after I've trademarked?

If your proposed name is not unique in the field, then you need to choose another one. You don't want any potential confusion as to the source of...

Can you patten something you didn't make but itsnt pattend from the original maker

No. To apply for a patent, you must be the inventor.

You may purchase fully-licensed costumes like Snow White and Spiderman; just make sure the company selling the costume to you has a license from...

Do I need to pay settlement fees regarding illegal downloading activities if I did not download the files?

I think you need to hire a lawyer to help you handle this. The copyright owner doesn't need your personal info -- all they need is an IP address. ...

I presented a product to a company several years ago and long story short, saw "my" product in a local store...

Yes, you should contact an attorney for an opinion. The main question is: what did you do to protect your idea before disclosing it to this...