What does a intellectual property lawyer do?
Intellectual property lawyers protect inventions, brands and creative work. They register patents and trademarks, draft licensing agreements, and take action when IP is copied or infringed.
Patents and trademarks in the US
Patent applications before the USPTO must be prepared by a registered patent attorney or agent. Trademark applicants based outside the US must use a US-licensed attorney. Copyright exists automatically, but registering it with the US Copyright Office is needed before suing for infringement of a US work.
How it works in Europe
In Europe you can protect a trademark or design across all EU member states with a single registration at the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), and patents through the European Patent Office, including the Unitary Patent system.
Questions to ask before you hire a intellectual property lawyer
- Should I register a trademark, patent or design, or is copyright enough?
- Will you search for existing rights before I apply?
- Which countries do I need protection in?
- What will it cost to keep the registration in force?