Minneapolis Utility Patent Attorney

Find the Right Minneapolis Utility Patent Lawyer

It’s important that you work with the right attorney with significant experience and local understanding of Minneapolis’s landscape.

At Bold Patents, we have decades of knowledge navigating utility patent laws, and we know how these laws impact individual inventors, startups, and small businesses. We help you assess patentability, create a plan for your patent portfolio, determine the right business strategies for protecting your intellectual property (IP), file your application, and take the necessary steps to uphold your patent rights through pre-litigation or our network of patent litigators.

Understanding a Utility Patent in Minneapolis

A utility patent is a type of patent that applies to what your invention can do. When you make something innovative, useful, and non-derivative, you could get patent protection through a utility patent if it is:

1. A machine
2. A manufactured article
3. A process
4. A composition of matter

They must be new, or a non-obvious and innovative change on an existing invention. If you get patent protection through a utility patent, it gives you certain rights to your invention for up to 20 years. This protection lets you stop others from using, making, or selling your invention. You can take them to court for infringing on your rights.

Main Industries Important in Minneapolis

Some of the main industries in Minneapolis include:

• Medical technology and life sciences
• Software and emerging technology
• Renewable energy solutions
• Advanced manufacturing
• Financial technology

Knowing these industries is important when you are an inventor. Changes in the technology or methods used by these industries can alter the landscape of innovation in many different fields. There are several companies, groups, and individuals that help fuel these industries. This includes:

• Major companies. The healthcare industry is fueled by companies like UnitedHealth Group and Mayo Clinic. Minneapolis is the top health technology cluster in the world, with 15,000 health organizations. Other major companies like Best Buy, US Bancorp, and C.H. Robinson all help their respective industries. These companies often have research and development branches, which can help further innovation and create new inventions. Companies also have significant workforces, and employees can create innovative solutions in their areas of work.
• Universities and colleges. There are several schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul, like the University of Minnesota (UMN) Twin Cities, Metropolitan State University, and Dunwoody College of Technology. New innovators may come to the area for their schooling, and the schools themselves also have numerous resources and opportunities for innovators, like grants, workspaces, and technology transfer help.
• City initiatives. There are numerous city initiatives and programs to help small businesses, improve infrastructure, and improve opportunities for employees to come to the area. All these initiatives also help improve innovation. Small business assistance includes community development, incubators, accelerators, investors, and many other options.

Key Resources for Minneapolis Inventors

Innovators need to be aware of their options for resources, particularly for new startups or independent inventors. These resources can make a big difference for the development, refinement, or licensing of your invention. Some of them include:

• UMN Research and Innovation Office for Technology Commercialization. This office helps innovators create licensing agreements with major companies, helping you secure your financial future. UMN has over 3,200 licenses created between innovators and companies and 2,400 active patents.
• Incubators and accelerators. This includes UMN Discovery Launchpad, gBETA Minneapolis, Forge North, and Lunar Startups. These organizations help startups and entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground through resources like funding, networking, mentorships, coworking spaces, and more.
• US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) resources. There is a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) in Minneapolis at the Hennepin County Library. PTRCs have resources to help you file your patent application and conduct patent searches. There is also the USPTO Midwest Elijah J. McCoy Regional Office in the Stroh Building.

Find Your Industry’s Patent Requirements

It’s important to get targeted patent guidance for your specific industry. Find your industry below to discover specialized patent requirements, strategic approaches, and how our attorneys can transform your ideas into protected intellectual property and assets.

FAQs

Q: What Are the Four Types of Patents?

A: The types of patents are design, plant, and utility patents, and you can also file a provisional patent for utility or plant patents. Design patents are for innovative appearances of a manufactured item, while utility patents are for an invention’s function. Plant patents apply to newly asexually reproduced plant varieties. A provisional patent application lets you get an early filing date prior to filing the full application, up to 12 months before you file.

Q: Do I Need a Design Patent if I Have a Utility Patent?

A: You may need a design patent if you have a utility patent, depending on your patent strategy and the invention you have made. Design and utility patents protect different aspects of an invention, so if you create a new process or machine and its design is also innovative, you may want both kinds of patents. However, if you protect your invention with a utility patent, a design patent may not be necessary, depending on the appearance of the invention.

Q: Can I File a Patent Myself?

A: It’s possible to file a patent yourself, but it isn’t recommended. When you file without the help of an attorney, you are more likely to miss important patentability requirements or fail to conduct a full patent and art search. You may also fail to fully document your invention. Any of these errors can lead to your application being denied. When you hire a utility patent attorney, they help you with each step and give you the greatest chance of success.

Q: How Do I Apply for a Utility Patent?

A: To apply for a utility patent, you have to file a patent application with the USPTO. You must pay the filing fees and provide a description on how to make and use your invention, as well as fully document the invention. The USPTO offers support through its PTRCs and regional offices to help you with this process.

Hire a Utility Patent Attorney in Minneapolis

Having a competitive advantage in a Minneapolis industry can significantly change things for your small business or financial future. When you create a bold new idea, Bold Patents can help you. Contact our team.

Bold Patents J.D. Houvener, Esq., MBA, P.E.

Principal Patent Attorney, Bold Patents