What Is A Patent Attorney?

Scott ThorntonInventor Help, Patent Law, Patent Office

Gears often represent utility patents for describing how an invention works.

If you’ve ever had an idea for an invention, you’ve probably heard the term “patent attorney.” But what exactly is a patent attorney? How do they qualify for this specialized role? And what services does a patent lawyer provide to inventors and businesses? As a Las Vegas patent attorney, I hope to give clear answers to those questions. What Is … Read More

Patent Drawings: Yesterday and Today

Scott ThorntonGallery, Inventor Help, Patent Law

When most people think of patent drawings, they picture hand-drawn illustrations from the late 1800s through the early 1900s.  Famous drawings include Thomas Edison’s light bulb patent or Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone patent.  And while those historic graphics evoke a certain nostalgic feel, the requirements for patent drawings today are very different. For inventors filing with the United States Patent … Read More

Top 10 Reasons To File A Provisional Patent Application

Scott ThorntonInventor Help, Patent Law, Patent Office

Filing a provisional patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can be a smart first step.  As a Las Vegas patent attorney, I regularly help inventors across Southern Nevada and beyond use provisional applications to secure intellectual property rights and confidently move forward with their ideas.  Here are 10 reasons why a filing provisional patent application … Read More

Understanding An Inventor’s Duty of Disclosure, Candor and Good Faith

Scott ThorntonInventor Help, Patent Attorney, Patent Law, Patent Office

As a patent attorney, I enjoy advising my clients on issues related to their patent applications and issued patents.  Most issues I address pertain to the technical and proprietary aspects of their inventions and how to effectively prepare, file and prosecute their patent applications.  For an inventor, obtaining a patent is an exciting time.  But in the excitement of obtaining … Read More

Ten Things An Inventor Should Do Before Contacting A Patent Attorney

Scott ThorntonInventor Help, Patent Attorney, Patent Law

As a patent attorney, I enjoy talking to inventors.  I love helping inventors and entrepreneurs secure intellectual property rights in their respective works.   A good part of my business involves the cultivation of working relationships with prospective clients.  My hope is that they will retain my services in the future.  But there are days where I am simply too busy … Read More

An Introduction to Patent Searching

Scott ThorntonInventor Help, Patent Law, Patent Office, Patent Search

Whether you’re a seasoned inventor or are attempting to patent your first invention, performing a patent search is a logical first step.  It only makes sense to learn and understand what’s out there before embarking on the long, expensive and frustrating voyage of obtaining patents in the United States and abroad.  And with today’s internet, accessing relevant patent information has … Read More

The Clock is Ticking in a First to File World

Scott ThorntonPatent Law, Patent Office

In March of 2013, the United States transitioned from being a “First to Invent” to a “First to File” system.  Prior to this change, patents were granted to the person who could demonstrate that he or she conceived of the invention first. Under the current “First-to-File” system, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issues patents to the first person … Read More

The U.S. Patent System Turns 225

Scott ThorntonPatent Law, Patent Office

Today marks the two hundred and twenty-fifth birthday of the U.S. Patent system.  The founders of the United States envisioned a system that would establish and enforce property rights in works of authorship and inventions for a limited time in contrast to the chartered monopolies of Europe.  Unique in nature, the United States patent system would be established through constitutional and statutory authority.  It … Read More