Intellectual Property

Businesses of all types depend on intellectual property. Even in primary sectors, such as agriculture and extraction, you need to develop and protect genetic formulas, scalability processes and technological innovations. Towards the other end of the spectrum, of course, most assets are IP.

Oak Brook Legal Attorneys at Law handles IP issues of all kinds. We handle everything from filing patents to advising on complex organizational strategy. Call us at (630) 325-5557 to make your inquiry, or read on to learn more about what typically comprises a comprehensive solution for the development and protection of non-tangible assets.

Freedom To Operate

Most intellectual property strategies begin by clearing the way for the intended operations. Simply put, you try to lower risk by creating a situation in which you can assume your actions will not infringe on other’s IP rights. You would then have what is known as “freedom to operate”.

An FTO analysis usually occurs in the early stages of launching a new product, service or research project. The exact process depends on the case, but establishing FTO almost always starts with patent searches.

Possibility 1: No Patent Exists

If there is no pending or established patent on your idea, you could keep it as a trade secret or establish a patent. However, FTO also depends on other factors, such as overarching patents, government regulations relevant to your industry and so on.

Possibility 2: There Is Already a Patent

If there is a patent, pending or in force, you could still have several options. For example, you could invent around the existing patents, shift your focus to other territories, purchase the patent, license or cross-license: There are too many alternatives to list them all.

In short, a simple records search is unlikely to provide you with a clear path forward for your company. Give us a call at (630) 325-5557. Our intellectual property lawyers are here to assist, advise and analyze.

Freedom To Profit

While we acknowledge that FTO is important, it is also essential that you put your IP to work once it is developed. Oak Brook Legal Attorneys at Law helps you make your IP more profitable in a variety of ways, such as:

• Developing contracts for implementation partnerships
• Drafting licensing or sales agreements, in your industry and beyond
• Analyzing tax requirements for royalties and other revenue
• Reducing organizational risk related to breach of fiduciary duty
• Assessing regulatory requirements in current and prospective markets

We also help you protect your investment. We handle various types of actions related to defending your rights and interests, both at home and abroad. This includes contract disputes, non-compete agreements and so on. Please feel welcome to contact us directly for more information.

Intellectual Property Law Services

We are a full-service business law firm in Oak Brook, Illinois, serving DuPage County and the greater Chicago area. To schedule a personalized consultation, please call (630) 325-5557.