Event 14 Oct. 2022
Curtis Provides Capacity Training to the Government of Uganda
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Event 21 Sep. 2022
Kalidou Gadio Speaks at AIEN 2022 International Energy Summit
News 15 May. 2023
Curtis represents e-commerce retailer in its fight to recover monies withheld by PayPal, the global payment giant
News 16 Dec. 2022
Curtis Trade Team is top ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2023
Event 08 May. 2023
Partner Irene Petrelli to Participate in ICC YAAF Event
News 02 May. 2023
Curtis Italy with DeA Capital in the Acquisition of Magic S.r.l
Event 23 May. 2023
Partners Luciana Ricart and Fernando Tupa Will Teach a Workshop on Hearings in Investment Arbitration for Arbanza School of Arbitration’s Online Program
Publications 23 Feb. 2023
Fernando Tupa Publishes Book on Forum-Specific Consent to International Arbitration in Investment Agreements
Event 03 May. 2023
Dr. Borzu Sabahi to Speak at ICSID-ADGM Joint Conference: Investment Protection and Armed Conflict
Event 19 Mar. 2023
Sebastiano Nessi speaks at Bahrain Business and Legal Landscape Conference
Event 01 Jun. 2023
Curtis Environmental Chair Charles Howland to Moderate Panel Discussion on Latest Developments in Environmental Due Diligence at ABA Masterclass on Environmental Transactions
News 25 May. 2023
Curtis Files SCOTUS Amicus Brief for Distinguished Law Professors in First Amendment Retaliatory Arrest Case
News 06 Mar. 2023
Russia Sanctions at the First Anniversary: An Overview of Current Sanctions in the US, UK, and EU and How Global Companies Can Navigate Evolving and Conflicting Sanctions Regimes
Client Alert 30 Aug. 2022
The EU Adopts the “Maintenance and Alignment” Sanctions Package
Client Alert 24 Jun. 2021
Update on Virtual Notarization (Executive Order 202.7) During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic (Updated: June 24, 2021) — U.S. Insight
Update on Virtual Witnessing (New York Executive Order 202.14) During The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic (Updated: June 24, 2021) — U.S. Insight
Intellectual Property
The main purpose of a patent is to protect a unique and inventive method, process, or design. In the U.S., there are two types of patents: utility and design patents. Utility patents are issued for the invention of a new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or a new and useful improvement thereof. Design patent are issued for a new, original, and ornamental design embodied in or applied to an article of manufacture. Patents do not protect products, processes, or designs that merely contain obvious and well-known ideas. For example, patentable subject matter might include a new industrial process for making a complicated microchip. An obvious method for filling a container or a simple combination of two existing items may not be patentable
A patent grants the holder of the patent exclusive rights to the claimed invention and the ability to exclude others from using the invention for a set period of time. In reality, this means that the patent holder can profit from the invention, either by virtue of selling a product embodying the invention or through licensing the patent to third parties.
The protection afforded by a patent depends on the ability of a patent holder to enforce it. In other words, the patent holder must be willing and able to enforce his or her rights in a court of law if someone else violates the patent (called patent infringement). The strength of a patent also depends on the legitimacy of the legal system in the country in which the patent was applied for.
What is a patent shelf life? A U.S. utility patent (which protects the creation of a new or improved—and useful—product, process, or machine) usually lasts for twenty years from the date of application. However, this can change depending on whether new patents are applied for during the life of the original patent. For example, a patent holder might make modifications to the original invention and apply for a new patent for that new modification, which would itself be good for an additional 20 years. A U.S. design patent (which protects the visual qualities of an item) usually lasts for fifteen years
Attorney advertising. The material contained on this page is only a general review of the subjects covered and does not constitute legal advice. No legal or business decision should be based on its contents.
Turner P. Smith
Partner
Eric Stenshoel
Counsel
Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual Property Litigation
Media, Technology and Entertainment Law
Cybersecurity
New York
+1 212 696 6000
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