Charlotte, NC Patent Lawyer
At Bold Patents, we help inventors and creatives throughout the state patent their constructions to secure a competitive edge in their lives and businesses.
Bold Patents provides legal representation to individuals in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina. Charlotte’s patent law firm also serves the surrounding area’s IP needs. This includes
Raleigh, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Durham and Winston-Salem. We aim to protect your patent and understand your greater intellectual property law needs. We support individuals looking to make their ideas a reality and provide legal aid in the following areas, among others:
Charlotte, NC Patent Attorney
North Carolina is well-known for the invention of the airplane, being the state where the Wright brothers launched their first sustained flight. The state is also known for Pepsi-Cola and the Gatling gun. Charlotte, North Carolina, itself has an expansive history of innovation, and the right Charlotte, NC, patent attorney can help you protect your creations. Bold Patents can help you determine the proper method to establish your invention and gain a competitive edge.
Patent, intellectual property, and trademark law can be complex, but many inventors and skilled businesspeople throughout North Carolina’s history have successfully used it to create successful businesses and profit from their innovations. This protection can serve you all throughout the country, enabling you to benefit from what you created.
Charlotte is the most populous city in the state and has been a steadily-growing location during the last few decades. It’s no wonder it’s a hub of creativity and innovation. The city’s Innovation and Technology department works to create and use technology that benefits individuals, further incentivizing innovative efforts.
Charlotte is home to numerous innovators, inventions, and breakthroughs, including single pack snack crackers, starting with Philip Lance and roasted peanuts in 1913. Isadore Blumenthal established Radiator Specialty Company in Charlotte and patented plastic safety cones for road work. The first Family Dollar was opened in Charlotte by entrepreneur Leon Levine in 1959.
Protecting Your Intellectual Property With Bold Patents Law Firm
At Bold Patents, we work with visionaries, including entrepreneurs, scientists, inventors, and investors. We help people like you secure quality patents that provide you the protection you need for the things you have created. We support you throughout the process of applying for your patent, protecting your invention, and maintaining the patent.
Our team can provide you with knowledgeable advice regarding the patentability of your invention or determining if it would be better protected with other forms of intellectual property protection. We can advise you on which patent or patents you can apply for, conduct a patent search, and help you navigate the time-consuming process of filing.
We can work to create a full application with all the necessary information that is free of errors, effectively streamlining the application review process. If there are disputes or other issues from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we can handle them promptly to get your application back on track.
We believe in supporting the spirit of progress. Our team is equipped to support innovators in numerous industries. We make sure we understand your industry’s needs to better personalize our legal services.
Understanding the Protections of a Patent
Protections for intellectual property include patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. Intellectual property law enables inventors to protect their creations, although the type of protection varies. A patent gives you the ability to prohibit others from selling, offering to sell, importing to the U.S., making, or using your invention.
Patents and trademarks are managed by the USPTO, and patent applications and issuances are handled by their office. This form of intellectual property protection addresses inventions that are innovative and non-obvious, such as an object, a design, a process, or other inventions. They are effective in U.S. states and territories. Corporations, independent inventors, small business entrepreneurs, and anyone else can pursue a patent for their invention.
If you are granted a patent from the USPTO, you do not have sole rights to sell, make, or use the invention, only the ability to prevent others from doing the same. If your invention is being sold or imported without your permission, you can take legal action against those infringing on your rights.
Types of Patents
Each type of patent covers its own types of innovative creations. The three types of patents offered by the USPTO include the following:
- Utility Patents: These are the most commonly applied-for patents. Utility patents are for the creation of an innovative process, manufactured article, machine, or composition of an object. These patents may be valid for up to 20 years after filing.
- Design Patents: These patents apply to the creation of an ornamental design that is original and innovative. The design may be applied to a manufactured item or be the specific shape of the item, or both. Design patents may last for up to 15 years after a patent is granted.
- Plant Patents: This type of patent applies to new plant varieties. A new plant variety is an invented or discovered asexually reproduced distinct plant. Tuber-propagated plants, or uncultivated wild plants, cannot be patented. Plant patents provide additional protection for the parts of the plant, such as the fruit or flowers that are produced. Plant patents may last as long as 20 years after filing
The amount of time that a patent lasts depends on the type of patent. Utility patents also rely on your continued maintenance fees. The patent may expire without these fees.
Once the end of any patent’s term is reached, it expires; however, patents may be extended in unique situations. An experienced patent attorney can look over your invention and the patent you are applying for to determine if exceptional circumstances may apply.
Basic Patent Requirements
In order to secure a patent for your creation, you must apply for one. Inventions under all types of patents must meet the following conditions:
- Be novel and innovative
- Be able to be used, as in non-theoretical
- Have a description of the invention, its creation, and its use
- Must not be obvious or derivative of another invention
A patent may not be right for all inventions. A trademark or copyright may be better applied depending on your invention and your intentions for your business and invention.
The Costs of a Patent
USPTO patent fees depend on the type of patent and the size of the entity applying for the patent. The maximum fee is the basic fee, and there are lower fees for those who are filing as small entities or micro entities.
Utility patent fees include:
- Application fee: $64 to $320
- Patent search fee: $140 to $700
- Examination fee: $160 to $800
- Issue fee: $240 to $1,200
- Maintenance fee at three and a half years: $400 to $2,000
- Maintenance fee at seven and a half years: $752 to $3,760
- Maintenance fee at eleven and a half years: $1,540 to $7,700
Design patent fees include:
- Application fee: $44 to $220
- Patent search fee: $32 to $160
- Examination fee: $128 to $640
- Issue fee: $148 to $740
Plant patent fees include:
- Application fee: $44 to $220
- Patent search fee: $88 to $440
- Examination fee: $132 to $660
- Issue fee: $168 to $840
Each patent also has a higher application fee for every 50 sheets over 100 sheets contained in the application, which ranges from $84 to $420.
These are not the only fees involved in the patent application and maintenance process. Errors in the process, late fees, and other issues can result in surcharges and other fees.
It can feel overwhelming, and it may seem that working with a patent lawyer will only increase these costs, but an attorney can save you a lot in the long term. Errors on your application can result in additional costs or even cost you the patent. An attorney can help avoid these errors. Your attorney can also determine if you are able to file under a unique filing status to lower the fees you pay.
What Cannot Be Patented?
Based on what is outlined by the USPTO, certain creations cannot be patented. You cannot patent the following:
- Physical phenomena
- Concepts and suggestions
- Abstract ideas
- Existing laws of nature
- Inventions only relating to nuclear material
- Atomic energy used in atomic weapons
Some of these creations may be applicable to other types of intellectual property protection. An attorney can help you review what is possible for your invention.
What Are the Benefits of Working With a Patent Attorney?
The process of securing a patent for your invention can be lengthy and complex, and an attorney makes it easier. A patent attorney understands the basic requirements of a patent as well as the more complex requirements depending on your unique creation and industry. You are more likely to get the protection you need for your invention with skilled legal support.
When you apply for a patent, it must fully disclose and outline your invention, including drawings and specifications of its use and capabilities. Depending on the complexity of your invention, this can be a long process. An attorney who has experience with patent applications is likely to have the resources you need to properly document your invention. Attorneys also know what needs to be included in your application.
Complex inventions increase the risk of errors being made. Mistakes when applying for a patent can lead to a delay in processing your application, result in surcharges, or prevent you from securing the patent. You may get a patent that does not properly protect your invention and your rights. When you work with an attorney who is skilled in intellectual property laws, they can use their professional experience to help you prepare the application.
Patent attorneys can also deal with the USPTO during proceedings. This can give you much-needed support and better protect your rights as an innovator. If you are able to secure a patent for your invention, having an attorney could be beneficial in helping you protect and maintain your rights.
FAQs
How Much Does a Patent Cost in North Carolina?
The cost of a patent in North Carolina is based on the type of patent you want to apply for with the USPTO. There are also numerous potential fees. In addition to an application fee, you also have to pay a fee to search existing patents, a fee for an examination, and an issuance fee if the patent is granted. Utility patents are the most common type of patents and have filing fees between $64 to $320. Design or plant patents have filing fees of $44 to $220.
What Is the Difference Between a Patent Lawyer and an IP Lawyer?
The main difference between patent lawyers and IP lawyers is the scope of their practice. A patent is a type of IP (intellectual property) protection, and patent attorneys have knowledge, education, and experience with that specific area of IP law rather than knowledge about all types of IP. IP attorneys tend to have broader knowledge of other areas of IP law, such as trademarks and copyrights. IP attorneys may not be licensed to deal with patents and patent agencies.
Do You Need a Lawyer to Secure a Patent?
You are not legally required to have a lawyer to obtain a patent, but it can help significantly and prevent you from making errors that could affect your patent protection. IP law is complex and frequently changing. A patent lawyer will be aware of these changes and how they affect individuals filing for patents. An attorney can help you prepare an application, conduct a patent search, and address issues with the USPTO.
How Much Does a Patent Attorney Cost in North Carolina?
The cost of a patent attorney in North Carolina varies based on numerous factors, including the type of legal support you need, the attorney’s experience, and the firm’s location. Lawyers working in cities or who have years of experience successfully handling patent applications may have higher rates. Working with an attorney cannot guarantee you a successful application, but an attorney can provide you with advice and aid you in the application process.
World Class Patent Lawyers Working in Charlotte, NC
Innovators in Charlotte must protect their creations and their rights to benefit from the things they create. At Bold Patents, we want to help you obtain effective protection for your intellectual property.
Across all industries, patenting what you create helps give you an edge against competitors, whether you are an individual or a business owner. Bold Patents has an experienced and dedicated team to help you see your dreams come to fruition. Contact us today to see how we can help you make your mark in Charlotte.
Charlotte Patents Resources
What Others Have Said About Bold
Patents’ Law Firm!
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...