InternetBased Customer Referral System U.S. Patent No. 6,029,141

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Internet-Based Customer Referral SystemU.S.
Patent No. 6,029,141
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Internet-Based Customer Referral SystemU.S.
Patent No. 6,029,141
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Netzero v. Juno
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Netzero v. Juno
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Internet AdvertisingU.S. Patent No. 5,933,811
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Seismic DataU.S. Patent No. 5,7745,392
John R. King
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Advantages of Seeking Patent Protection

• Investors
• Licensing
• Strategic Relationships
• Excluding Competition

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When Should A Patent Application Be Filed?

• U.S. Within 1 year of first sale, offer for
  sale, publication or public use.
• Europe Before invention is made available to
  the public
• NOTE There is no requirement that product or
  prototype be developed!

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Design Patent Protection

• What is a Design Patent?
• The patent laws provide for the granting of
  design patents to any person who has invented any
  new and nonobvious ornamental design for an
  article of manufacture.
• The design patent protects only the appearance of
  an article, but not its structural or functional
  features.

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Design Patent Protection

• A design patent has a term of 14 years from grant

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Trade Secret Protection

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of trade
  secret protection

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• Hawk Eye Woods
• Hawk Eye Irons

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Ensuring that you Own your Intellectual Property

• Myth I paid for it, therefore I own it.
• Employee Agreements
• Independent Consultant Agreements

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John R. King
Orange County Office2040 Main Street, Fourteenth
Floor, Irvine, CA 92614 Tel [phone] Fax
949.760.9502 www.kmob.com