US patent applications

There are many advantages to securing intellectual property rights in the United States. NLO’s in-house team of US patent attorneys are authorized to act before the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) and can handle all aspects of US patent preparation and prosecution.

How to get a US Patent

Our U.S. patent attorneys will help you with the following steps:

Step 1: Is your invention patentable in the US?

We can conduct a patentability search to analyse whether a similar invention has already been disclosed.

Step 2: What kind of patent do you need — utility or design?

A utility patent protects the function, composition or structure of your invention. A design patent protects the ornamental and non-functional aesthetics of your product.

Step 3: Does your application meet the requirements for patentability in the US?

If your application doesn’t meet the requirements, your examiner will explain the reason(s) in an office action. Once your application is in satisfactory condition and meets the requirements for patentability in the US, you will receive a notice of allowance.

Step 4: Maintain your patent

Maintenance fees are required to maintain your patent in force beyond 4, 8 and 12 years after the issue date. We can send you timely reminders and pay the maintenance fees so your patent will not lapse.

Step 5: Watch the marketplace

It is important to maintain a watchful eye on the marketplace, and we can help by monitoring the patent rights of competitors or determining if another party may be infringing your patent.

What about product clearance?

Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis identifies and analyses the patents of competitors that may subject you to patent infringement liability. FTO analysis before (or during) developing and launching a new product can help you understand the risks in the market and make informed decisions to avoid or mitigate those risks at an early stage.