Getting a Patent for a New Hot Water System

I filed for a new patent a few days ago. The patent is for an improved hot water delivery system for residential and commercial buildings. The new hot water delivery system is capable of providing faster than normal hot water delivery to any fixture in a home or building, and only to that fixture where the hot water is needed.

The basic idea is to place a pump at the water heater which when running will create a pressure difference between the hot and cold water lines with the hot water lines having the larger pressure.

At each fixture a cross-over valve connects the hot and cold water lines. The valve has a controller which has a temperature sensor in contact with the water in the valve. Each valve controller also has a communications link with the pump.

When you want hot water at any particular fixture you activate the valve by pressing a button that is either hard wired to the valve or uses a radio frequency transmitter to activate the valve. The valves can get their power from either the house current or batteries. Batteries would be great for retro-fit installations. We estimate the battery life to be a minimum of two years using four AA cells per valve.

When you press the button activating the valve, it checks the temperature of the water at the fixture, and if the water is not already hot, the valve controller sends a signal to the pump to begin pumping. The valve controller also at the same time opens the valve between the hot and cold water lines. Thus hot water begins flowing from the water heater with the cooled off hot water in the hot water piping being sent back towards the water heater through the cold water line which hooks to the inlet of the water heater somewhere.

So basically that is the new invention. Let’s examine the steps I’ve taken for protection so far.

After my partner and I decided we had a good idea for a new product we knew we needed to get patent protection. My partner found a patent attorney through a relative, a lawyer working for a very large and expensive firm. But what the heck, hopefully we would be able to obtain a good solid patent that could be enforced in the market place.

Foreign patent protection is complex and expensive. Very expensive. We decided to stick to just he US and Canada. Canada adds about $1,500 to the cost of filing.

Our patent lawyer explained to us that the least expensive way to get some form of patent protection on our new idea was to do what she called a “document dump”. We gave her documents that explained the invention in detail, and she did the “document dump” which serves as proof in a court of law of when we first thought of the idea. Of course we could have thought of it 10 years before that, but this is absolute proof that you had thought of if by at least the day of the dump.

The reason we went with that was we had no money to pursue a patent, and this was the least expensive way to obtain some protection.

The year expired a couple of weeks ago, so we went ahead an filed a provisional patent which provides us with a filing date and the ability to make further patentable improvements if we come up with some while we finish development of the product. The only downside is the patent still expires for all protection even if we come up with new patentable features later on.

Now that the patent is filed I can discuss the new invention online without risking screwing up my patent rights.

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Trademark Registration Build your Business image Globally with Legal Aspects

A trademark is popularly recognized as brand name, is a visual mark in the form of a word or a device or a label applied to the commercial goods or service to enable the consumer public to identify one trader’s goods from same goods of other traders. The Trademark Act & Trademark Rules seeks to grand for the trademark registration of trademarks relating to goods and services in India. The rights granted under the Act, are working in the entire of India. The marks devoid of any unique character, or which are only indicative of the variety, superiority, quantity, purpose, value or geographical origin of the goods, or which are marks already in trend in the trade due to their customary use may not be registered. trademark registration gives the authority of its genuine owner and they can go for legal proceedings against its copied and misuses. The company can file trademark litigation action as a part of intellectual property right. The company has right to banned identifiable mark used by others in any place of the nation as they are the right authority of it. Every country has exclusive symbols to signify the company in the national and global market. The unique identity helps of its consumer to distinguish products of their company with other company. As per the rules of litigation of trademark laws, “company can follow proper procedure of legal action against the misuse or duplicate copy of trademark”. The litigations act come under civil lawsuits. It provides the facility of company in making their individual identity and to solve disputes controversy and issues.

The Trademarks Act, 1999 provides security to the owner of a trademark and imposes criminal liabilities for the infringement of the trademark owner’s rights. To enjoy protection, the owner of a trademark must register the Trademark in Registrar of the trademark registration in india. The Trademarks Act is also applicable to the security of certificate marks, service marks and collective marks. The Trade Mark Registry Office executes the statutory duties in connection with the registration of Trade mark and other activities related thereto. Trade Mark offices are situated in Ahmadabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Generally, brand refers to the trade mark used to identify the goods or services among the consumers. The business group sells their services or goods under the particular name or brand that is called trade mark. Therefore, the brand registration is useful to avoid the duplication or use the same mark by others. Brand registration is most favorable services in the corporate sector. The patent is the unique act, which allot to the inventor, the right of exploiting its object exclusively, during a determined period of time. patent registration means that the invention cannot be commercially used, made, distributed or sold without the patent owner’s permission. An owner of the patent has complete right to decide who may – or may not – use the patented invention for the period in which the invention is protected. The patent owner has power to permit or license, other parties to use the invention on mutually agreed terms.

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Patent Research in America

Typically, the number one reason people conduct patent searches and read patent documents is to see if an invention idea has already been patented by someone else. They totally ignore possible hidden treasures that may also be found in previously issued patent documents. If you have an idea for an invention then you are probability someone that thinks outside of the box. Why stop there? Don’t limit yourself to thinking outside of the box only when inventing.
An ACLU lawsuit is challenging the legality of such gene patents.1 The ACLU has it right. Any patenting of organisms or an organism’s parts restricts the advancement of science. In the case of medical science the unfortunate consequences can be deadly. One of the key workers on The Human Genome Project makes the ridiculous statement that “The goal of patenting a gene is not to make anyone rich, but to force disclosure of secret information.”
The next factor a company needs to consider is in what countries patent protection would be worth the trouble. In other words, you don’t want to apply for a patent in a country where they don’t have the technology or infrastructure to use your method or invention. For example, in countries where there is no Internet access it would be a waste of time and money to apply for a patent for some form of online sales method.
The requirement to determine whether there are any aspects of the invention that are different is the most difficult hurdle to cross. Several years ago, I met a gentleman at a trade show who invented a life vest, which, I believe, was a great idea, because he was able to decrease the weight of the life vest by 1.5 pounds. I believed in this product so much that I decided to assist him with obtaining financing and marketing the product.
We must propel innovation in the US and take our nation to the next level. We must restore America’s number one slot as the greatest and most innovative nation on the planet. We will focus our intent and will on start-up concepts using an entrepreneurial, free-market, and competitive approach to advancing technology, science, inventions, design, and the best ideas we can find. We will assist our passionate inventors, entrepreneurs, and intellectual thinkers to push their concepts to the forefront.
North American businesses are increasingly outsourcing business functions to companies outside of the United States. Often this outsourcing is seamless to the outside world. The company maintains control over the processes and results, while certain business functions are quietly conducted in another country. Companies often benefit from reduced operating costs and an eager workforce.
Many will say entrepreneurs are risk takers, although most entrepreneurs will tell you different, they unlike the observers of their activities do not see it as a risk at all. Yet when you throw more variables into the loop, the waiting from slow processing at the PTO everything gets put on hold, as innovators do not want to reveal secrets until they are protected, and the PTO takes their time and tries to do research although it is hard to be a Michael Creighton when you work for the government.

Read About Patent Attorney Also Read About Patent Research and Patent Application Drafting

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A Lucrative Career as a Patent Agent

Earlier, the postdoctoral position was a “springboard” something bigger and better. But today, they are ensnared in their temporary positions. Some of them spend more than 10 years for “big-break” to get the permanent Ph.D. positions. They are incredibly underpaid and overly worked which might not be their ideas and dreams.

However, story changes if you begin your career as patent agent. All it takes to pass Indian Patent Agent exam conducted by the Indian Patent and Trademark Office. Upon passing this exam, you would be legally eligible to (write and prosecute) draft patents in India.

“A licensed Patent Agent (with no law degree) makes an average expected salary of Rs. 4,00,000 a year. Contrast this with the Rs. 2,16,000 average salary of a Research Associate in the field of Biotechnology. That’s almost Rs.1,84,000 more in a single year.

The salary for a Ph.D. in a postdoc position is a mere Rs.1,92,000. And the average number of hours a postdoc works in a typical week is 51. If you do the math, this is less than the average salary earned by recent college graduates with only a bachelor’s degree. Once again, let me remind you of the average salary of a Patent Agent — Rs. 4,00,000 a year.”

And it’s not only about money. Career as a Patent Agent has its rewards. It’s a highly respectable and honorable career where your knowledge solves fascinating technical and legal problems. It’s the opportunity use your science degree (or the degrees) to get and earn the prestige you deserve.

You work on the cutting edge of research & development and even closer to it than you are today tucked away running experiments in the laboratory. You will learn new and exciting discoveries before anyone else.

Moreover, a patent agent has virtually unlimited potential. Patent law is one of the few legal specialties and since many biotech innovations truly do advance society. You will have the opportunity to do something great and positive for mankind.

You may also choose to get a law degree after you gain experience as a Patent Agent. “As you might guess, you can expect a higher pay and even more challenges as a Patent Attorney (in fact, the average pay for a Patent Attorney is Rs. 7,00,000 with some partners earning well over Rs. 15,00,000 a year).”

So with immense benefits of a career in patent law, why don’t more scientists opt for this opportunity? Because most of them just don’t know the opportunity exists.

Now you know that passing the Patent Agent Exam can open an entirely new career door for you. It can pave the way to a higher salary and a highly rewarding career. So if you’re interested in a career change, please check out more information today.

 

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Trademark registration ? Discover the advantages of online filing

Filing a European Community Trade Mark (CTM) grants its owner an exclusive right in the 27 member states. Administered by the Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the CTM system creates a unified trademark registration system in Europe. An increasing number of applicants are filing online. You too can file trademark online to expedite the process. The benefits of online filing are more than one. First up, there are no risks involved. Unlike the Madrid/WIPO way, CTM is independent of the national trademark. The Madrid protocol involves an increased risk for holders who base their international registration on an application with the Office of origin.

Furthermore, the filing cost online is not as high as costs involved in the Madrid/WIPO protocol. Filing community trade mark online has yet another benefit- your application is automatically accompanied by legal representation when it is forwarded to the OHIM. As a matter of fact, a professional is required to represent all applicants before the OHIM. Needless to say, the legal representative has to be experienced and knowledgeable. He needs to be well versed with the wide-ranging facets of trademark application. Incidentally, there are companies that offer myriad online services with professional legal representation in relation with trademarks and designs. Contacting these companies will give you an overall perspective on trademark application.

The importance of trademark registration cannot be underestimated. It prevents your brand from being illegally used in Europe. Also, it is important to safeguard yourself against fraudulent fee requests. Quite a few applicants are receiving unsolicited mail from unofficial registration services demanding money in relation to Community Trade Marks and Registered Community Designs. Hiring the services of experienced professionals can help you in a scenario like this. They can guide you through the process of filing trademark online. They can help you save a great deal of your time and effort. You can bank on them to get your job done.

Direct CTM filing is a hassle free affair. Filing European trademark online is convenient to say the least. CTM procedures are streamlined and organized. The applicant is provided protection through a single trademark registration process. The formalities involved in direct CTM filing are more effective and efficient. This can be attributed to the centralization of a single application, administrative office and file. Another interesting highlight about filing online is that CTM offers uniform and direct protection throughout the EU market. It is a robust tool for those looking to enforce their trademark rights.

The community trademark entitles its proprietor a uniform right applicable in all Member States of the European Union. It can be used in various ways – as a service mark, manufacturer’s mark or a mark for goods of a trading company. The trademark is valid for a period of 10 years. However, it can be renewed indefinitely. The economic advantages of filing online far outweigh the benefits of filing under the Madrid protocol.

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Provisional Patents

Filing a provisional patent is probably the wisest choice you can make if you’re unsure about your invention.

It is worth noting that the patent process is not so easy on the wallet. However, even though it can be costly, there are ways to get affordable patent protection. There is cheap protection with provisional patents. Continue on!

If you’re still unsure you should file a provisional patent, you should first read this bit about filing a provisional patent application.

It’s perfectly OK to be taken back by so much out there and not being sure what to do. Filing a provisional applicaiton might not be a big deal and it doesn’t cost you much. But the process of filing a utility applicaiton is a very long journey and will take a significant amount of money to get yo started.

I just want to follow up on my past articles with something new. Take the time to research what it is you have to do, or what makes filing your patent worth the cost.

Too much information out there is cluttered and it can be overwhelming. I suggest you join a forum and talk to other inventors. I also suggest you find an informative site or company that provides you with step-by-step information on how to get a patent. Lastly, shop around and see which companies or firms offer what type of service for what price.
The internet is filled with great information. But so much information to go through can seem overwhelming. You need to speak with other inventors or better yet find a good dependable site that provides you with good, reliable information on the whole patent process. And don’t forget to look around to see who can provide you with good quality service when you want to prepare and then file your patent applicaiton online.

There’s a ton to take in. Is a provisional application ideal for you? do you know that provisional patents don’t actually exist and that you will have to file a utility application in 1 year? or should you go straight for a utility app?

Even if you decide that filing a provisional patent application can wait, you will want to know your time limits and you better read about how to file your provisional patent online.

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The Patent Outsourcing Process in India ? An Emerging Trend

LPO or legal process outsourcing, which is a strong sector in knowledge process outsourcing organization, is attracting several international law firms who are outsourcing their legal work to Indian Companies. However in the LPO organization it is actually the patent outsourcing which is catching up even faster than other LPO tasks. Although some major firms in US quote to nearly $15,000 to prepare and file patent applications some top legal services India deliver services for just about $3,500. This is one of the reasons for several offshore companies to file additional patents in their same budget.

The participation of India in legal process outsourcing has been outstanding in the last few decades. Apart from Indian entrepreneurs there are also overseas customers constantly search for better areas to deliver commercial and professional service at reasonable costs and with a quick spin. Indian participation in patent services is still in a promising stage and it would soon take off especially when there are several professional Indian attorneys and law firms India to offer service.

Patent outsourcing mainly involved literature searches, technology and patentability assessment, prior art searches, infringement, patent proof reading, IP valuation, patent claim mapping, filing, preparing and prosecuting trademark applications, drafting response to objectives through US examiners, patent writing, patent application drafting, infringement studies and patent administration and mining.

In the last few years a number of Indian outsourcing firms and companies have emerged and most of them offer great business. There are specific firms for a particular patent task but a few Indian law firms can even handle almost all the legal issues. As technology keeps changing speedily it is often becomes difficult to keep a track of the new trends spinning on the internet and the range of ideas and innovations your competitors are working on. Therefore outsourcing your work to Indian law firms can help you keep in touch with the latest business trends while also enjoy affordable and instant service.

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