Innovations in the maritime, advanced manufacturing, and defense industries that are useful and new may qualify for utility patent protection. This protection can help you secure rights to what you created and give you a market advantage, which can support your business or a licensing agreement with your invention. A Virginia Beach utility patent attorney can help you with the entire patenting process and protect your rights.
When you hire a utility patent attorney, you want a team with years of experience and a deep understanding of the industries in Virginia Beach. At Bold Patents, we bring you this. With decades of experience securing patents in the city’s major industries, we bring you the legal representation you need.
Getting a patent can help you protect your future. Our patent attorneys help you refine and develop your creation, get the resources you need, determine your options for intellectual property protection, apply for a patent, and develop your patent portfolio.
There are three primary types of patents that are issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Plant patents apply to plant varieties, design patents apply to aesthetic shapes or applications on a product, and utility patents apply to the function of an invention, including:
Utility patents are the most commonly applied-for and granted patent type. When you have a utility patent for your invention, that allows you to prevent others from selling, offering to sell, importing, making, or using your invention without permission. If your rights are infringed on, you can take legal action, potentially recovering damages in the case.
Innovators, entrepreneurs, and other visionaries have to be aware of the driving industries in Virginia Beach when they create something new. The majority of innovation happens in these industries, so they are constantly changing, leading to new challenges and opportunities. These changes can end up affecting your invention. Key industries in Virginia Beach include:
Many factors in the city help further innovation in these industries, like:
When you are an independent inventor, resources to help you create and enhance your invention are crucial. Some potential resources include:
While there are no USPTO resources nearby, there are several options in the vicinity, including Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) at:
PTRCs can help with patent searches and have information about filing a patent application. There is also the Northeast and Southeast Regional Outreach Office, located in Alexandria at the USPTO headquarters.
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.
A utility patent is an invention that is useful and is either new or an improvement on an existing invention. It might be a composition of matter, an article that was manufactured, a process, or simply a machine. Utility patents apply to a function of an invention, such as a new method of business or an item and process for sorting.
A utility patent is typically enforceable for 20 years. This countdown begins from the day you file the first non-provisional patent application. Utility patents also have surcharge maintenance fees, which are due throughout the patent’s lifespan. If you fail to pay these fees, your patent expires, and you lose your ability to enforce your rights.
A utility patent becomes unenforceable when it expires, which happens within 20 years, but could happen sooner if you fail to pay the maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years. Besides expiration, there are very few reasons a utility patent, once granted, would be unenforceable. However, patents can become invalid and unenforceable if you act fraudulently when dealing with the USPTO or act with intentional misconduct to fail to disclose important information.
Generally, a utility patent cannot be renewed. However, there are strategies to extend your protections to your invention through continuation, divisional, and continuation-in-part patents. These patents can protect other aspects of the invention or protect innovative changes to your creation.
You can also request an extension if your original patent was unreasonably delayed during its examination or there was interference, but this only extends it for a short period.
You don’t have to navigate developing your invention and filing for patent protection alone. At Bold Patents, we can partner with you to refine and safeguard your invention, as well as build your patent portfolio. When you need experienced representation in Virginia Beach, reach out to Bold Patents.
Written by Patent Attorney J.D. Houvener, this updated edition provides inventors, entrepreneurs, and startups with practical guidance for protecting ideas, avoiding costly mistakes, and navigating the patent process with confidence.
Whether you’re exploring a new invention, building a startup, or preparing to file a patent application, our team is here to help you move forward with confidence. Get personalized guidance from experienced patent professionals who understand the challenges inventors face.
We are a full-service patent and trademark prosecution firm. We help inventors and entrepreneurs research, protect, and monetize their intellectual property in the marketplace.
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