The Top Dog Of FAQs: “Can I Patent My Recipe?”

By Stephen B. Schott My mom challenged me to eat a hot dog with peanut butter on my 8th birthday and I did. It’s delicious and we call it a “nutty dog.”  She found the recipe in a cookbook, so it is not a new idea. But the thinking that lead to this Frankenstein’s monster food…

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Why You Should File A Provisional Patent Application, Especially If You’re A Start-Up.

An Article in Schott, P.C.’s IP Law For Start-ups SeriesBy Stephen B. Schott sbschott@schottpc.comYesterday I heard this conversation between a venture capitalist and a start-up company with an excellent idea.VC: “It’s a crowded market with lots of competition. Do you have patent protection?”Start-up: “No, not yet.”VC: “But you have some pending patent applications?”Start-up: “No, we wanted to get our…

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Patent Law Basics: What Is A Provisional Patent Application?

An Article in Schott, P.C.’s IP Law For Start-ups SeriesBy Stephen B. Schott Provisional patent applications are confusing. They don’t mature into patents. But they kind of do. The US Patent and Trademark Office doesn’t review them like they do a nonprovisional patent application. But they still must meet strict legal requirements or they are useless. And…

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