Houstonians: Why Choose a Houston Patent Attorney?

Is your business based in Houston? If so, and you want to protect your invention, you`ll find it best to team up with Houston patent attorney. These professionals are knowledgeable and experienced with the intricacies of patent law, so they will be able to provide you with the guidance that you need. Intellectual property rights can be protected by these experts, but they can also help find solutions to other legal issues that may arise as well. Below we have outlined some of the most common reasons why it is important for people in this region to work with a Houstonian attorney.

A patent attorney from Houston is beneficial to clients. Especially for those competing in the Houston market, they have experience with intellectual property rights, and they are knowledgeable in all areas of patent law. In the Houston metro area, you could be in one of the surrounding cities or neighborhoods such as Space City, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land, which is why these professionals should have in-depth knowledge of your area. Knowledge of local laws and customs is what distinguishes the patent attorneys in this region from those elsewhere. They also have a deep understanding of how important patents are for innovation and development in these areas.

Among the attorneys that you find are those specializing in helping new inventors and those who handle intellectual property litigation.

If you plan on starting a business or developing any inventions, it is time to contact a patent attorney now.

When is it time to patent?

If you want to protect your business`s ideas, patenting is a highly recommended legal mechanism. The risks of not patenting a great idea include:

  1. someone else taking and profiting off of your invention, in addition to ongoing royalties;
  2. losing much of the original intellectual property (IP) should litigation arise;
  3. if your invention never goes into commercial production, corporations with different solutions will get in your way instead.

It`s never too early to patent. Patents secure your rights to the invention as well as offer protection against infringement.

When inventors should file their patents — it depends on what stage of development they are in, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office:

  • Invention Disclosure: This is when you have an idea but haven`t filed any kind of patent application.
  • Concept: This happens after you disclose your invention for feedback from others.
  • Working Prototype: You have a functional prototype that you can test and demonstrate.
  • Marketable Product Stage: You are considered at risk for patent infringement if your product has been marketed to consumers in any form, shape, or size.

What about patent infringement?

Regardless of your industry, there is a good chance that someone will use one of your patents without your permission at some point during your career. If an employee is careless, a customer does not follow the company`s policy or someone is stealing your intellectual property, this could happen.

It can affect you as an inventor on multiple levels, and it can happen in a number of ways:

  • It`s possible that your competitor could sell a copy of your product;
  • If a competitor uses the same or similar technology, customers may choose them over you;
  • Someone can steal your patent rights!

In these situations, it`s important to know how patent infringement can affect your business and what steps are necessary for defending against an infringing party. It`s important that every inventor in the Houston area has a skilled patent attorney, like LloydMousilli.