Portland Patent Attorney

Portland Community!

Identify, Protect, and Enforce
Your Patent Rights!

Portland, Oregon, is home to prominent institutions like Portland State University (PSU) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), which play a major role in research, innovation, and fostering entrepreneurial talent. PSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and OHSU’s Innovation & Commercialization influence actively support the development of startups, especially in fields like bioscience, healthcare, and sustainability.

Portland’s tech scene is known for having a strong presence in software development, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and manufacturing. The city has attracted major tech companies such as Intel, Autodesk, and Tektronix, as well as a vibrant startup ecosystem. Startup accelerators like PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment) and coworking spaces like WeWork and CENTRL Office provide support and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs.

Bold Patents can ensure Portland’s innovators protect their intellectual property. With the region’s strong emphasis on technology, medical research, and green energy, we can help startups, universities, and research institutions secure patents and trademarks for their inventions.

Bold Patents can also support Portland entrepreneurs in leveraging their patents and IP for business growth, ensuring they maintain a competitive edge in this fast-evolving market.

Here in Portland, we serve investors, entrepreneurs, and scientist that are pushing the limits, doing what hasn’t been done before, and taking risks in the spirit of progress and positive change. Portland is one of the great innovation hubs of the world, and if you have an idea, we want to make your dreams become reality. We have multiple offices around the Portland area, ready to serve your needs.

Our job is to make sure that your idea is protected, secured, and enforced by our staff and expert patent attorneys. We understand the difficulties of growing your ideas and business. That is why we exist: to help our clients through the legal processes of intellectual property. At Bold Patents, we are there to help you every step of the way, from patentability opinions to enforcing your patent down the road.

How to Apply for a Patent

It can be somewhat daunting and a bit intimidating to pursue a patent for your invention, especially if you are attempting to do so without the aid of a patent attorney. It is vital to your claim over your invention that you are successful in securing the patent. It is recommended that you consult with a patent attorney before pursuing the application.

First, you have to make sure that you are indeed the first inventor to come up with your invention. It is all too common for an inventor to believe they have made a breakthrough, only to later learn that someone else made that same breakthrough years earlier. If your invention has already been patented, you will have no legal claim to it. Search long and hard for any inventions and patents similar to yours. If you find nothing, you can continue the process.

Once you have confirmed that nothing else like your invention currently exists on the market, you can file your patent application with the appropriate office. Once filed, your application will go through the examination process. At this point, a patent examiner will be assigned to your case and will conduct a thorough search of their own to confirm the patent’s eligibility.

If the examiner discovers any irregularities or concerns that need to be addressed before moving forward, they may reach out to you. You and your patent attorney will have the opportunity to address these concerns and fight anything that might put your application in jeopardy.  Once the patent is granted, you will have the exclusive rights to your invention, including manufacturing and distribution. Patents in the US generally last 20 years from the date of application.

Qualifications for a Patent

In order to secure a patent for your invention, it must meet a number of specific qualifications that show its value as an invention to improve society. Only once your invention has met these qualifications can you begin pursuing an application for a patent. These qualifications will likely include the following:

• Patentability: You are not allowed to patent just anything legally. If you are seeking a patent, it has to be something manufactured, a process, or a composition. It cannot just be an idea or something made from nature. According to the Supreme Court, you cannot patent a law of nature, natural phenomena, or an abstract idea.
• Practicality: The invention you seek to patent must have a certain degree of practicality or usefulness in society. There must be a credible or specific purpose unique to the invention. It cannot be just generally useful.
• Novelty: You cannot patent something that already exists. If you invent something similar to an existing product, it must be a significant improvement over that product in order to be patented. It is important to remember that patents exist to protect the inventors’ rights in the event of infringement. Your invention must be brand new and have no prior patents for similar inventions or prior publications.

FAQs

What Is a Patent Attorney?

A patent attorney is a lawyer who focuses on assisting inventors with securing a patent for their invention, as well as enforcing that patent in the event their intellectual property rights are infringed upon. A patent lawyer can help you research your invention thoroughly, prepare and fill out your patent application, provide you with guidance regarding patent law in your state, and represent your interests in an infringement case.

Why Do I Need a Patent Attorney?

There are many different reasons why you would need a patent attorney for your case. The most important reason is experience. Dealing with intellectual property law and infringement cases is not easy. There are many different nuanced details that need to be addressed throughout the process. Having someone in your corner who understands those finer details and can bring their experience to your case can only help you in the long run.

What Is a Patent Lawyer’s Salary?

It is difficult to determine what a patent lawyer’s salary is. Every patent lawyer’s salary is different and must take into account the details of your case. Lawyers’ fees change all the time to reflect the growing legal market and the need for lawyers in a certain field. Other factors that can add to a lawyer’s fee are the lawyer’s experience, education, availability, caseload, and network of resources they can devote to your case.

What Is the Difference Between a Patent Attorney and an Intellectual Property Lawyer?

There are multiple differences between a patent attorney and an intellectual property lawyer. However, there are also several similarities. Both professions deal in protecting their clients’ intellectual property rights. The differences include:

• Only patent attorneys are qualified to help their clients with patent applications.
• IP lawyers can often protect their client’s interests in court, while patent attorneys can only litigate if they have passed the bar and have a law degree.

World Class Patent Attorneys Serving Portland, OR

Hiring a patent attorney may just be the most important decision you can make regarding your pursuit of a patent for your invention. Your attorney can help you fill out your application, ensure that your invention does not already exist, and fight against infringement if the day ever comes.

The legal team at Bold Patents understands the kind of legal assistance you need to succeed in your patent case. We can help you build a strong legal case, protect your interests, and enforce the patent. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a team member who can help you.

Virtual Satellite Location

Portland Patent Attorneys
Bold Patents Law Firm
1001 SW 5TH AVE #1100
Portland, OR 97204

Please Note: All Office Locations and In-Person Meetings are by appointment only.

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

Principal Patent Attorney, Bold Patents