Hiring the Right Professional for Your Needs
There are many firms that advertise themselves as offering intellectual property services and people who advertise themselves as patent litigation attorneys. But what does that really mean? What services are these firms actually authorized to offer? Depending on a person’s bar memberships, the intellectual property services he or she is authorized to offer may be limited.
Be sure that you understand the legal services that your attorney is authorized to provide. At Livingston Loeffler, our entire practice is focused on intellectual property law. With offices in Naples, Fort Myers and Sarasota, our attorneys are prepared to help clients throughout Florida and the U.S. with any patent issue that may arise.
What Do You Get When You Hire a Patent Attorney?
In the field of intellectual property, there are generally three types of professionals: U.S. registered patent attorneys, patent agents and intellectual property attorneys.
U.S. Registered Patent Attorneys: The U.S. Registered Patent Attorneys at our firm have earned this distinction by passing The Florida Bar Exam as well as a federal bar exam administered by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). U.S. registered patent attorneys are able to prepare, file and prosecute patent applications as well as provide all of the other legal services necessary to protect your intellectual property rights, including obtaining trademarks and/or copyrights, negotiating licenses, litigating infringement matters or anything else attorneys are able to do.
Patent Agents: Patent agents are not attorneys. They are individuals who have been authorized by the USPTO to prepare, file and prosecute patent applications. They are not authorized to provide any legal services, such as obtaining trademarks and/or copyrights, negotiating licenses, litigating infringement matters or anything else attorneys are able to do.
Intellectual Property Attorneys: Unless your intellectual property attorney is registered by the USPTO, he or she is not allowed to have any role in the preparation, filing or prosecution of your patent application. Intellectual property attorneys can, however, provide legal services in other areas of intellectual property, including obtaining trademarks and/or copyrights, negotiating licenses, litigating infringement matters or anything else normally licensed attorneys are allowed to do.
Schedule an Initial Consultation
Contact our offices today to discuss your questions with a lawyer. Call 239-262-8502 to reach us in Naples and Fort Myers, 941-309-5314 to reach us in Sarasota, 1-800-548-4332 to reach us nationwide or send us an e-mail.
We assist clients nationwide, throughout the state of Florida and Southwest Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and surrounding communities.