Know Your Rights: Your IP and Business Law Playbook

por Julie King

Temporada 2025

Myth: I Don't Need a Patent Attorney for a Provisional Patent Application.

Here's a bite-sized portion of my main episode this week. This clip focuses on provisional patent myth #4: “ I Don't Need a Patent Attorney for a Provisional Patent Application.” Technically, true, and it’s tempting to save money by going it alone or using a low-cost online service, but this isn’t always wise. #patent #patents #provisionalpatent #iplaw #patentattorney #patentlaw #patentlawyer

T2025 · E38

31 jul 2025

2:23

Myth: I Can Publicly Disclose My Invention after Filing a Provisional Patent Application and Still Be Safe

Bonus

Here's a bite-sized portion of my main episode this week. This clip focuses on provisional patent myth #3: “ I Can Publicly Disclose My Invention after Filing a Provisional Patent Application and Still Be Safe.” This one is a half-truth that can still be profoundly risky. Listen/watch to learn why. #patent #patents #provisionalpatent #iplaw #patentattorney #patentlaw #patentlawyer

T2025 · E37

30 jul 2025

1:19

Charging USPTO Fees Based on Patent Value is an Idea from Hell

Commerce Secretary Lutnick’s boneheaded idea of charging patent holders between 1% and 5% of their overall patent value annually is, to put it more politely, fundamentally problematic. Here's why. #patent #patents #iplaw #patentlaw

T2025 · E36

29 jul 2025

5:08

Myth: “A Provisional Patent Application Gives Me a Patent”

Bonus

Here's a bite-sized portion of my main episode this week. This clip focuses on provisional patent myth #1: “A Provisional Patent Application Gives Me a Patent.” NOPE! listen/watch to learn why. #patent #patents #provisionalpatent #iplaw #patentattorney #patentlaw #patentlawyer

T2025 · E35

28 jul 2025

1:55

DO Stop Believin’: 5 Common Misconceptions About Provisional Patent Applications

Provisional patent applications are popular with startups and inventors because they’re fast and relatively inexpensive, but they’re also one of the most misunderstood tools in the inventor’s toolkit. They’re inexpensive, flexible, and don’t require formal claims—but they’re not a shortcut to a patent. Let’s bust five of the most common myths about provisional patent applications so they don’t trip you up later. 1. Don’t Stop Yourself Now: “A Provisional Patent Application Gives Me a Patent” 2. Don’t Dream On: “As Long As I File Something, I’m Covered” 3. Don’t Have Open Arms: “I Can Publicly Disclose My Invention After Filing and Still Be Safe” 4. Don’t Go Your Own Way: “I Don’t Need a Patent Attorney for a Provisional Application” 5. Do Keep Movin’ On: “Once I File a Provisional Application, I Don’t Need to Worry for a Year” #patent #patents #provisionalpatent #iplaw #patentattorney #patentlaw #patentlawyer

T2025 · E34

28 jul 2025

8:21

Running on Empty: 5 Common Mistakes DIY Applicants Make on Provisional Patent Applications (and How to Avoid Them)

Filing a provisional patent application can be a smart, strategic move for inventors, but only if it's doneright. Unfortunately, many DIY filers treat the process like it's just a placeholder or a quick form to “get something on file.” The truth? Many DIY inventors make critical mistakes in provisional applications that cost them patent rights down the road. Let’s break down the 5 most common mistakes inventors make when filing a provisional patent application themselves—and how to avoid them. Here's what I'm covering in today's episode: 1: Not Describing the Invention in Sufficient Detail 2. You Can’t Go Back: Treating It Like a Placeholder that Doesn’t Matter 3. The Pretender: Using Overly Broad or Ambiguous Language 4. Show Me the Way: Failing to Include Drawings or Diagrams 5.Slip Slidin’ Away: Assuming a Provisional Patent Application = Patent Pending Protection Forever For What It’s Worth: Your Idea Deserves More Than a Deficient Provisional Application Filing If you’d like to consult with me, you can use my contact form or you can book a consultation online at kingpatentlaw.com or by calling my office at 312-596-2222 or 217-714-8558. Please check out the other posts and pages on my website for more information on patents and other intellectual property and business law issues. #patent #patents #provisionalpatent #iplaw #patentattorney #patentlaw #patentlawyer

T2025 · E33

21 jul 2025

10:05

Name of the Game: Why Your Logo Trademark Isn’t Enough to Protect Your Name

When small business owners invest in branding, they often assume that registering their logo as a trademark, especially if it includes the business name, gives them broad legal protection. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. If you only register your logo as a trademark, you don’t necessarily have trademark rights to the business name by itself—and that could leave your brand vulnerable. How DO you make sure you’re protecting BOTH your logoand your business name with trademark registration and aren’t leaving your name or your logo vulnerable? I’ll be covering that and more in this episode. If you’d like help with trademarks, let’s talk. You can use my contact form or book a consultation online at kingpatentlaw .com or by calling my office at 312-596-2222 or 217-714-8558. #trademark #business #businesstips #intellectualproperty

T2025 · E32

14 jul 2025

5:21

It’s Never Enough Just to . . . Register Your Business Name with the Secretary of State

Starting a new business is exciting—you pick a great name, file your registration with the state, and boom! You’re official. But here’s the catch: just because you’ve registered your business name with your state doesn’t mean you actually own the rights to that name. Using it with the public may even be trademark infringement. No joke! In this episode, I talk about the following issues: ✅The Business Name on Your Formation Documents vs. Trademark Rights: What’s the Difference? ✅ Don’t Let the State Let You Down: The Risk of Unintended Trademark Infringement (why state registration of a business provides ZERO assurance that 1. the name is available to you to use as a trademark, and 2. the registered name isn’t infringing someone else’s trademark rights.) ✅ Get Up to Speed: How to Clear and Protect Your Business Name: 1. Have a Trademark Search Done By an Experienced Trademark Attorney 2. Document Your Trademark Use 3. Apply to Register a Trademark ✅ Something to Rely On: Trademark Clearance and Registration, NOT Business Formation Documents Registering your business name with the state through your formation documents is a good first step in protecting your business name, but all it means is that there isn’t an identical business name in your state. That doesn’t mean no other business has that name or one confusingly similar to it, so it doesn’t mean you have trademark rights to it or that you won’t be committing trademark infringement by using it with the public. Having a thorough trademark search by an experienced trademark attorney can help you pick a non-infringing name you can make sure isn’t trademark infringement and that you can secure as yours through trademark registration. Trademark search and application for registration before committing to a business name is a worthy investment that will help you secure your brand, avoid legal trouble, and save time and money down the road. You can even have a search done and apply for registration long after you’ve been in operation, as long as that search doesn’t turn up anything problematic. If it does, you can work with a trademark attorney on quietly rebranding asap. Now that you know these trademark facts, you know it’s truly never enough to rely on your secretary of state’s office for trademark clearance or protection and you’re ready to start working with an experienced trademark attorney to know and protect your rights to your business name. If you’d like help with trademarks, let’s talk. Please go to kingpatentlaw.com to book a consultation, call my office at 312-596-2222 or 217-714-8558, or email me at julie@kingpatentlaw.com.

T2025 · E31

7 jul 2025

7:40

Highway to Probate - Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late: Key Dates for Estate Planning

AC/DC makes the highway to hell sound pretty fun: livin’ easy, party time. Being lackadaisical is a terrible approach to take with estate planning, though. Estate planning is one of those things that’s easy to put off, but waiting too long can leave your family and assets unprotected and your family having to deal with probate court. Comparing probate court to hell is a bit extreme, but it’s still something to avoid if you can.The good news? A solid estate plan gives you control over what happens, both while you're living and after you're gone. If you don’t have one, or have one that’s inadequate, your nearest and dearest will most likely end up managing your estate in probate court when you pass, which is time-consuming and expensive compared to what can happen with a good estate plan. Here are the most important estate planning dates to keep on your radar.

T2025 · E30

14 mar 2025

5:20

It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Miss Your Business Deadlines): Key Dates for Starting & Running Your Business

As AC/DC said, “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll,” and I can tell you it’s a long way to the top in business if you miss your deadlines. Time matters in business. Whether you're launching a startup, maintaining operations, or preparing for growth, certain deadlines can make or break your success. Missing key business dates can lead to financial penalties, legal trouble, or lost opportunities. Here are some of the most critical dates every business owner should have on their radar.

T2025 · E29

14 mar 2025

5:03

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