US Federal Intellectual Property Matter Plans

Intellectual property law in the United States is primarily federal, grounded in Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution. The Patent Act (35 U.S.C.) governs patents for new, useful, and non-obvious inventions, providing a 20-year term for utility patents from the filing date. The Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.) protects original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium, with copyright attaching automatically upon creation. The Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. sections 1051-1141) is the principal federal trademark statute governing registration, protection, and enforcement of trademarks and service marks.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers the patent and trademark registration systems, while the U.S. Copyright Office manages copyright registration. Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over patent and copyright disputes, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all patent cases. Our IP plans cover patent prosecution, trademark prosecution and opposition, copyright registration, IP licensing, and infringement litigation in federal court.