Can I patent a new diagnostic medical test using a commercially available petri dish and agar without infringement?

A patent owner may exclude others from making, using, selling, offering to sell, and importing the patented invention (e.g., a product or a...

What is considered enough due diligence when doing a prior art search?

You can read MPEP Sec. 2001 Duty of Disclosure, Candor, and Good Faith @ http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s2001.html Generally, if...

Can I buy a brush head (fig 3 and 4) from China and sell in the US.

You need to consult an experienced patent attorney to evaluate the patent and your product.

You should retain a patent attorney to discuss converting your provisional application to a full utility application within one year.

Is provisional patent application publicly viewable?

A provisional patent application will become publically viewable after the non-provisional application which claims benefit to the provisional...

My published research paper is more than 3 yrs old and is unpatented. Does this mean no one can patent it now?

You are correct, you will not be able to sue a competitor for patent infringement if you don't have a patent. You are also correct that you can...

As a startup, how concerned should I be with IP initially? What is the average cost required for a patent?

IP is mission-critical for a start-up, as it most likely comprises the only valuable assets a start-up has. As far as the costs, it is better to...

Is it better to file a non provisional patent? Would it be looked upon more favorably than a provisional

A provisional application won't have claims, so it will be easier to license a non-provisional application. Although most likely, you will have...

What kind of engineer should my lawyer be to help me in filing a patent for a household item (like a hook)?

I would agree with my colleague, most experienced patent attorneys will be able to prepare a patent application for a household item. ...

Can US attorneys help with filing European patents?

You would need to retain an attorney licensed to practice in Europe.