Novel products and processes can provide significant commercial advantage when exclusivity is maintained. Left unprotected, however, competitors may quickly copy the technology and gain commercial advantage by avoiding the research and development costs expended by the inventor. Thus, patents are an important consideration for every technological advance.

In the United States, a patent application must be filed within one year of the date on which the invention was first sold or publicly disclosed. In most other countries, however, any public disclosure of the invention prior to filing a patent application destroys the ability to obtain a patent in that country. Thus, if protection might be desired outside the United States, it is important to have a patent application on file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office prior to any public disclosure of the invention. Once a patent application is on file in the United States, the applicant typically has one year to file an application for foreign patent protection.

The members of MOC work with inventors and clients to determine the novelty of the technology, and confer with clients and inventors regarding each aspect of the technology to assure that maximum protection is sought. The firm counsels its clients regarding appropriate filing strategies and advises its clients concerning foreign market issues to help clients determine where foreign patent protection is most valuable for the technology, and for the money.

Call Morriss O’Bryant Compagni today at 801-882-2794!