A Board Certified Patent Attorney
Archive for the ‘Patents’ Category
Florida Patent Depository Library
Patent depository libraries are an excellent resource for patent research. The United States Patent & Trademark Office has established around 80 depository libraries throughout the United States with at least one in each state. Many states have several. For example, Florida has two patent depository libraries in South Florida, one in Miami and a second one in Ft. Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Broward County Main Library 954-357-7444 Miami Miami-Dade Public Library 305-375-2665 A third patent depository location is in Orlando, Florida: Orlando University of Central Florida Libraries 407-823-2562 A comprensive listing of patent depository libraries is available by visiting the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Library Listing Page. These libraries all have extensive collections of issued patents that can be searched. Many of them have qualified
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATENTS
There are two major types of patents issued by the United States Patent & Trademark Office, namely, utility patents and dsign patents. A utility patent protects the function of an invention. The term of a utility patent is 20 years from the date of filing. A design patent protects the overall appearance of an invention and is granted for any newm original, and ornamental design for an article. The term of a design patent is 14 years from the date of issuance. If you are interested in obtaining patent protection with the United States Patent & Trademark Office, I would suggest you consult with a patent attorney, who can assist you in the complex process of protecting your intellectual property rights.