Patent Prosecution Simplified: A 2026 Roadmap for Startups and Founders
The large majority of patent applications receive at least one rejection on their first office action. Yet most inventors, especially tech founders developing AI algorithms…
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Articles from the attorneys at The Rapacke Law Group on protecting what you build, from patentability and filing fees to trademarks, licensing and raising money.
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Why Every Seller Needs an Amazon Trademark Lawyer Before Launching a Brand
A private-label seller woke up to find her Amazon listing locked. A competitor had filed for her brand name at the USPTO, claimed ownership through the Brand Registry…
From Idea to IPO: How to Get a Trademark That Protects Your Brand Long-Term
A trademark infringement lawsuit taken through trial costs a median of $250,000 to $1.1 million in litigation expenses, depending on how much is at stake. Yet in fiscal year 2026, the United States Patent…
How to Get a Federal Trademark: A Step-by-Step Guide
To protect your brand nationwide, you’ll need to know how to get a federal trademark. This guide walks you through the key steps: understanding the benefits, conducting a…
Trademark Infringement Damages in 2026
As every business knows, their trademark symbolizes their brand identity and helps identify their products and services to their consumers. The more well-known a…
The Real Trademark Filing Cost: 2026 USPTO Fees
Intellectual property‐intensive industries (including trademarks, patents, and copyrights) accounted for $11.4 trillion in U.S. GDP in 2024, or 44% of private-sector GDP, with…
Utilizing Examiner Interviews to Further Prosecution in Medical Device Patent Applications
An examiner’s interview can be immensely beneficial when working through patent prosecution at the USPTO for your medical device invention. Below we cover when to request one, what it can accomplish and how to prepare…
Patents in Months, Not Years: The ROI of Track 1 for High-Growth Companies
In fiscal year 2026, Track 1 applications reached a final disposition an average of 4.9 months after the USPTO granted the Track 1 request, while regular applications averaged 28.8 months of total pendency.
Risk Management: How to Avoid Infringement of a Trademark in the Digital Age
Infringement of a trademark is a serious legal issue that can have negative effects on a company’s finances and reputation. When a person or organization uses a trademark…
Copyright vs Patent vs Trademark – What’s The Difference and Which Is Right For You?
It’s a jungle out there in the business world and as a founder, you’re faced with making many important decisions. One of those decisions is deciding what type of…
Are Blockchain-Backed Technologies Patentable?
One study has reported that Chinese companies filed 4,435 blockchain patent applications between January and October of 2020. This rise in blockchain patent applications…
Planning A Rock Solid Patent Portfolio Strategy
A patent portfolio strategy is a business plan to develop valuable patents, protect your technology, and profit from it. Here is how to build one, from selecting inventions to continuations, audits, and investor due diligence.
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