Albuquerque Utility Patent Lawyer
When you make a bold new invention, you need an Albuquerque, NM, utility patent attorney to help refine, develop, and protect that invention. Innovations in aerospace, biotechnology, and other essential industries in the city are especially important, and it’s crucial you do what you have to in order to secure a competitive advantage.
Hire a Utility Patent Attorney at Bold Patents
At Bold Patents, we have decades of experience in patent law and understand the intricacies of how the law interacts with bioscience, aerospace and defense, clean energy, and media technology. We help you get the resources you need to build and improve your invention and provide you with legal advice for patentability based on substantial experience.
We help you review your goals for a business or other plan and determine the right form of intellectual property protection for those goals. You can protect your financial future with patent protection.
What Is a Utility Patent?
A utility patent is a patent that is applied to what an invention can do. The novel or innovative machine, process, competition of matter, or manufactured article must meet the following requirements:
- It is new or a non-obvious improvement on an existing invention
- It is useful, and not only an idea
- There is an explanation about how to make and use it
A utility patent can last up to 20 years. During this time, you have the ability to prevent other parties from taking certain actions with your invention. This includes selling, making, or using the invention.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Utility Patent in Albuquerque?
According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it takes an average of between 27.5 months and 44.3 months to get a final answer on your patent application, as of December 2025. This range depends on whether you send a request for continued examination.
You can also likely expect utility patents to take longer compared to other patents. Utility patents are the most frequently applied-for patent type, and this significant inventory can make examination take much longer.
Important Industries in Albuquerque Innovation
Innovation in the city is driven by some of its key industries, which are continually changing and growing. These key industries include:
- Bioscience
- Film and digital media technology
- Aerospace
- Directed energy and green energy
- Manufacturing
Some of the key elements fueling these industries include:
- Universities like the University of New Mexico (UNM) and New Mexico Tech (NMT), bringing new innovators to the city and offering facilities, funding, and other resources
- Incubators, accelerators, and investors, which help bolster new entrepreneurs and small businesses to change the landscape
- Small businesses and start-ups, which help industries evolve and bring new ideas to the market
- Government branches and related companies, like Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base
Understanding the industries in Albuquerque and the companies and parties that push them forward is essential as an innovator. Innovation changes, and this can affect your invention and its patentability. Being aware of the market and its current state is even more important when your invention is relevant in the city’s key industries.
Resources to Support Innovators
Some key resources in the area include:
- Local investors. There were 38 investments in the city by New Mexico Angels, as well as investments by Deciens Capital, Alameda Ventures, and GOS Capital.
- NMT Office of Innovation Commercialization. This office has 20 available technologies, either patented or patent pending, helping inventors secure licensing agreements and commercialize their technology.
- UNM Rainforest Innovations. This program helps new start-ups by providing facility access and other resources, as well as helping innovators navigate technology transfers.
- USPTO resources. There is a USPTO Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) near Albuquerque in Durango, Colorado, located in the Durango Public Library. PTRCs have information about patent applications and have resources for conducting patent searches.
A patent attorney can help you access these and other resources while also safeguarding your patent rights.
Find Your Industry’s Patent Requirements
It’s important to get targeted patent guidance for your specific industry. Click on your industry below to discover specialized patent requirements, strategic approaches, and how our attorneys can transform your ideas into protected assets.
FAQs
How Much Do Patent Attorneys Charge in Albuquerque?
The cost of a patent attorney in Albuquerque depends on the attorney you work with, their experience, their fee structure, and the intricacy of your invention.
A more complicated and technical invention can often require more resources to properly document. It can also take longer to prepare the application, which matters if the attorney charges an hourly fee. A more experienced attorney may have a higher rate but may also have the experience to expedite the process.
What Are the Three Requirements for a Utility Patent?
Three requirements for a utility patent are that it is 1) novel or an improvement on an existing invention, 2) useful, and 3) either a manufactured article, process, machine, or composition of matter. The invention must also meet the general requirements of a patent, including being non-theoretical and non-obvious, as well as having a description of how to make and use the invention. A patent and art search is important to determine if your invention is patentable.
What Is the Average Cost of Defending Against Patent Infringement in New Mexico?
The cost of defending against patent infringement in New Mexico can depend on the professionals you work with and the steps needed to protect your patent rights.
When someone infringes on your patent rights, there are initial steps you can take prior to litigation, including sending a cease-and-desist letter or demanding financial damages for the financial harm caused by the infringement. Negotiations can also be part of this process to find a resolution before going to court.
What Is the Difference Between a Patent and a Utility Patent?
The difference between a patent and a utility patent is that a utility patent is one kind of patent protection. There are design, plant, and utility patents. A utility patent applies to the function of an invention, rather than what it looks like. The appearance could be protected by a design patent. A plant patent applies to a new variety of plant. When you hire a utility patent attorney, they can assess which patent protection is right for your innovation.
Albuquerque Utility Patent Lawyer
When you have a bold invention, you need Bold Patents. We have the resources to document technically complex inventions, to conduct patent and art searches, and guide you through the patent application process. Reach out to our firm today and let us support you in your patent journey.
Bold Patents J.D. Houvener, Esq., MBA, P.E.
Principal Patent Attorney, Bold Patents
As Featured in:
What Others Have Said About Bold
Patents’ Law Firm!
My experience with the BOLD team has been fantastic every step of the way. I started not knowing anything about the process, and now I'm happy to say I'm two patents and counting with the BOLD team. They really make it easy. Thanks BOLD!
-Patrick Furlong
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Bold Patents. They are extremely knowledgeable in their areas, prompt with their communications & responses, transparent & honest with their findings, break complex IP information into simple & understandable terms. Each & every member that I have interacted with has been...
-Hndle LLC Team
The Bold Patents team from day one maintained a feeling of support. BP definitely still provides “back in the day” customer service with a modern convenience. I never felt like I was just in a business deal. Even the fact that we are in different states had no effect on...
-Jessica Ramirez, Tolleson, AZ
Bold Patents gets the job done!!! They never left me out of the loop and they were there to answer any and every question I had. My patent attorney Houda is phenomenal. She took the extra step to get connected with my management advisory team and our progress skyrocketed. I’d...