What should I expect if a company wants to file patent paperwork on my product?
A large well known Company wants to produce our patent product in China and wants to sell them to us along with paying us a royalties on each one they sell. We have not release cad drawings or patent number as of yet. They said they will do paper work themselves. My question is what should I expect and watch for.
Answered By: Malhotra Law Firm, PLLC
It is unclear to me whether you have an application pending or not. Ideally, you will want to have some patent application filed before releasing information to them. Otherwise, you will want to have an attorney review the contract they are offering you. If they are offering to take over prosecution, you will want to make sure that deadlines are not missed and that competent U.S. patent counsel is hired. You will also want to file a Chinese patent application or PCT application within one year of the filing date of the U.S. patent application. If your product has a name, you should consider filing trademark applications in the U.S. and China. Who will own the patent? Who will be responsible for enforcement of the patent if there is infringement? Can you step in and enforce the patent if they fail to do so? Can you have your attorney review responses to office actions (to make sure they aren't limiting claims too much)? Can you file your own continuation application to try to get broader claims? Can you have your accountant periodically inspect the books and royalty calculation? Do they have assets in the U.S. (e.g., if you have to sue them for breach of contract or for dropping the ball with your patent application). Who has the right to sell in other countries? Can you file in foreign countries if they do not? There are many questions that need to be considered. I recommend that you sit down with a licensing attorney who is also a patent attorney, and discuss the details of your situation. I'm not sure that there is not enough information here to give you good advice.
Answer Applies to: Washington
Replied: 7/21/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: Washington
Replied: 7/21/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answered By: Michael M. Ahmadshahi
You should have an attorney review the licensing agreement to make sure your patent rights are properly protected. The agreement should particularly include geographical limits and exclusivity provisions.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 7/21/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 7/21/2011
Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.
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