# Presentation: 072709

## THE BETTER MOUSE 

**THE BETTER MOUSE **
**TRAP**
**How to protect it with **
**Patents and Trademarks**
**Randy Notzen**

**Notes:**
ANY QUESTIONS

## INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

- PATENTS
- TRADEMARKS
- COPYRIGHTS

## CRITERIA FOR OBTAINING A PATENT

- Invention must be
- NEW
- USEFUL
- NON-OBVIOUS

## SHORT-RANGE PARACHUTE

**SHORT-RANGE PARACHUTE**

## PLOW GUN

**PLOW GUN**

## ALARM BED

**ALARM BED**

## Scooter

**Scooter**

## TYPES OF PATENTS

- UTILITY PATENT
- PROTECTS UTILITARIAN FEATURES
- LIFE OF 20 YEARS FROM 1ST FILING DATE
- DESIGN PATENT
- PROTECTS ORNAMENTAL FEATURES
- LIFE OF 14 YEARS FROM ISSUE DATE
- PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
- RESERVES FOR ONE YEAR THE RIGHT TO FILE A UTILITY APPLICATION

## WHAT IS A UTILITY PATENT?

- A utility patent is a disclosure to the public in exchange for the _**right**_** **from the government to _**exclude others**_ from making, using, selling, or offering for sale the invention for a period of 20 years from the first filing date.

## WHAT CAN BE PATENTED?

- Article of manufacture
- Apparatus
- Process
- Composition of Matter
- Business Methods
- Improvements of any of these

## PATENT FEATURES

- A U.S. Patent is good only in the U.S.
- Ideas from foreign patents may not be patented in the U.S. by others.
- Foreign patent coverage generally requires a separate patent for each country.

## PATENT PENDING

- Okay to mark product after patent application is filed (provisional application also)
- May deter potential infringers
- Fraudulent to mark without pending application
- Marking must be removed if application is terminated

## CONTENT OF A UTILITY PATENT

- -Background of the invention

- -Object of the Invention

- -Brief Description of the Drawings

- -Description of the Preferred Embodiments

- -Claims

## I CLAIM:

- 1.	A rodent trap having an opening for permitting entry by a rodent, said container having a bottom comprising at least two bottom surfaces rigidly connected and oriented at an obtuse angle relative to one another ...

## POTTY

**POTTY**
** ****SEAT**

## THE PATENTING PROCESS

## Scooter

**Scooter**

## THE PRIOR ART CHALLENGE

**THE PRIOR ART CHALLENGE**

## OFFENSIVE USE OF PATENTS

- DETERS INFRINGERS
- LICENSING
- ENFORCEMENT TO OBTAIN DAMAGES

## DEFENSIVE USE OF PATENTS

- BARS OTHERS’ PATENTS
- TRADING STOCK

## CAN YOU DESIGN AROUND A PATENT?

## I CLAIM:

- 1.	A rodent trap having an opening for permitting entry by a rodent, said container having a bottom comprising at least two bottom surfaces rigidly connected and oriented at an obtuse angle relative to one another ...

## DISPOSABLE OR REUSABLE ANIMAL TRAP

## OPTIONS WHEN CLIENT DISCOVERS A PATENT INFRINGER

- Have the product evaluated by a patent attorney.

- 1)	If not infringing - done
- 2)	If infringing:
- 	a)	send a copy of patent to alleged infringer
- 	b)	send a cease and desist letter
- 	c)	send a license offer

## OPTIONS WHEN CLIENT RECEIVES A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER

- Immediately go to a patent attorney for advice

- 1)	The product may not be infringing
- 2)	The patent validity may be attacked
- 3)	Patent could be expired
- 4)	An acceptable license may be available
- 5)	Client may discontinue infringement
- 	Treat Cease and Desist Letter Seriously

## DESIGN PATENT

**DESIGN PATENT**

## PITFALLS TO PATENTABILITY

**Prior Sales**
**Public Use**
**Publication**

## ENGINEERING VS MARKETING

**ENGINEERING VS MARKETING**

## EVALUATE INVENTION

** ****3)****	****How will it be marketed?**

** ****1)****	****How important in the marketplace?**

** ****2)****	****Can it be manufactured ****	****	****	****	****commercially?**

## INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

- PATENTS
- TRADEMARKS
- COPYRIGHTS

## TRADEMARK

- Any word, name, symbol or device used to distinguish one company’s products from the products of other companies.

## TRADEMARK EXAMPLES

- WORD  	HAVAHART
- NAME  	FORD
- SYMBOL 	HARLEY DAVIDSON MUFFLER 		SOUND
- SMELL 	LEMON FRAGRANCE FOR 			TONER ON LASER PRINTERS
- COLOR	PINK FOR INSULATION

## DIFFERENT TRADEMARK SYMBOLS

- TM	TRADEMARK
- SM	SERVICE MARK
- ®	FEDERALLY REGISTERED

## QUALITY OF A TRADEMARK

- Weakest    					Strongest

- Generic     Descriptive      Suggestive      Arbitrary      Coined

- 	         				       		    

- Aspirin      Holiday Inn     Roach Hotel     Camel	   Kodak

## TRADEMARK FEATURES

- TRADEMARK IN U.S. IS GOOD ONLY IN U.S.
- IF POLICED, TRADEMARK LIFE CAN BE FOREVER
- U.S. TRADEMARK SYSTEM BASED UPON FIRST-TO-USE

## TRADEMARK DISASTERS

- NOVA AUTOMOBILE - Translation
- FRENCH DRINK - Phonetics
- ASPIRIN - Generic
- XEROX - Almost Generic

## FEDERAL TRADEMARK REGISTRATION PROCESS

- Select Mark
- Perform clearance search
- File application
- Application allowed - 30 day opposition
- Show use in interstate commerce
- Registration issues

## TRADEMARK LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION

- Similarity
- Appearance  - Raid vs. Raze Insecticide
- Sound - Easy Spray vs. EZ Spray window spray
- Meaning	Hurricane vs. Cyclone fencing
- Similar Channels of Trade
- Strength of Mark
- Buyer Sophistication
- Intent

## INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

- PATENTS
- TRADEMARKS
- COPYRIGHTS

## Slide 40

**Notes:**
ANY QUESTIONS