Category: Gearhart Blog

Coming up with a great idea is only part of the journey. If you’ve created a new consumer product, whether it’s a smart kitchen gadget, a new type of shoe, or a clever pet accessory, you’ll want to make sure your invention is protected. A patent gives you the legal right to...

Launching a new brand is exciting. Whether you're preparing to roll out a product, name a company, or design a logo, you want to stand out. But before you commit to your idea and start filing paperwork, there’s one important step you shouldn’t skip: the trademark clearance search.

This...

Chemical inventions can shape entire industries, from life-saving medications to cutting-edge materials. Whether you're creating a new compound or improving an existing one, protecting your work is often a key part of bringing it to market. One way to do that is through a chemical patent.

This blog explains...

When you're ready to protect your brand, one of the first steps is registering a trademark. Whether it's your company name, logo, or tagline, securing legal rights through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can help you defend your business identity. But many entrepreneurs wonder: do you really need an attorney...

Software can still be patented today, including many types of AI-based software, but it takes careful planning and a clear understanding of what the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will accept. The rules have tightened in recent years, and many applications get rejected simply because they describe abstract ideas without demonstrating...

Have you invested time and energy building a name or logo for your business, only to worry someone else might use it? That’s where trademark registration comes in. A registered trademark does more than protect a slogan or design. It secures the value behind your brand and gives you the tools to...

Improvements to existing products can be patented, as long as they are new, useful, and non-obvious. In fact, many of today’s most successful inventions didn’t start from scratch. They’re upgrades, tweaks, or creative modifications to something that already existed. If you’ve found a better way to do something—whether it’s making a device...

Patenting a medical device often involves more complexity than other types of inventions. Between overlapping technologies, strict FDA requirements, and tight timelines, securing patent protection takes more than just submitting an application. Companies must account for when and how they disclose their invention, how to demonstrate it’s different from what's already out...