Protection From Theft Or Litigation
Here are the facts: State = Illinois
1. Invention conceived - 1998
2. Patent Search conducted - 1999
3. Employment began with company A; line of business unrelated
4. 1st patent application submitted - 2000
5. Received a couple of office actions
6. Company A outsourced staff to company B - 2004
7. Company B requires new employees to sign,"assignment of Invention and covenent against disclosure"
Signed under duress to maintain employment, and did not disclose
8. Submitted CIP - 2005
9. Line of business of company B has divisions where some lines of business may be considered simular
10. How do I protect myself, protect the patent from being stolen?
11. Would assigning it to a company, or a trust, or an individual provide the protection I seek?
Thank you, Remy
Re: Protection From Theft Or Litigation
Quote:
10. How do I protect myself, protect the patent from being stolen?
You take all of your documentation to an attorney specializing in patent law, because something like that is way too important to entrust to a bunch of faceless strangers on an internet forum.
Re: Protection From Theft Or Litigation
Thank you for posting a reply to my inquiry. I have tried getting a patent lawyer's opinion twice at my expense and to date do not have an answer. I do agree it is too dangerous for somthing this important, in relying to faceless strangers. I 'm running out of options to remedy this problem.
Perhaps you or someone else who reads this post could recommend an attorney who has integrity, is on top of their game, treats their clients decently and wants to make a name for themselves in the law archives, then please refer them. Thank you and best wishes to all, Remy