Can You Trademark a DBA?
Can I list my DBA as the trademark owner?
Short answer: No, not by itself. A DBA (Doing Business As) isn’t a legal entity. It's just a nickname for your business. The USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) needs to know who actually owns the trademark—meaning a...
Can You Patent a Similar Idea?
Can you patent something that’s similar to an invention that’s already patented?
Yes, you can. But there are a few things you need to know first.
If your idea is basically an upgrade or improvement on something that already exists, that’s a good...
10 Parts of a Patent Licensing Agreement
What are the key parts of a patent licensing agreement? Let’s break it down.
Hey everyone, I’m JD Houvener, founder and patent attorney at Bold Patents Law Firm. I also wrote Bold Ideas: The Inventor’s Guide to Patents. If you’re looking for a solid starting point, check...
Can You Patent an Existing Idea?
Nope. A U.S. patent only covers new inventions. If someone else made it first—even if they never got a patent—you can’t claim it as your own.
Also, once something is public, it’s too...
How Much Does a Patent Cost in 2025?
Hi, I’m JD Houvener, founder of Bold Patents Law Firm and author of Bold Ideas: The Inventor’s Guide to Patents. If you’re thinking about patenting an invention, you’re probably wondering—how much does it cost?
The...