Why should I hire an attorney for patent, trademark and copyright advice?**
Shark Tank has made invention really cool…and it is! But there is a whole other side of building a business around an idea that can be, in all fairness, dry and tedious. There are laws concerning safety, taxes, and intellectual property that come into play and that do affect a business’ bottom line. It is so important to know what these are going in, so that you can plan ahead and avoid unnecessary expenses and surprises. An experienced business attorney consulted early in the process knows the typical bumps in the road and can prepare you for what you are getting into. Get your road map in place first, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
It is entirely possible to file patent and trademark applications without an attorney. However, for both patents and trademarks, there is so much more than just filling out forms and paying fees. I cannot emphasize this enough. This is where having done a pre-filing patent or trademark search really pays off. Based on the initial search, an experienced patent or trademark attorney will know strategically which application to submit, what to include in the application, when to submit it, and what to say. We will be able to monitor important deadlines and fees, and understand how to respond to the patent or trademark examiner when something goes wrong. Many times it does.