Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Maryland

Re: Patent for a software application

Yes, we could help you protect your system. I'm doing quite a bit of work in the area of "business method" and Internet patents. I head a boutique law firm halfway between Wilmington and Philadelphia. Our practice is Intellectual Property and Internet Business Law. I've been communicating online since 1982 and am a sysop of the Ideas, Inventions & Innovations Forum on CompuServe. For further info, see our Web Site, http://www.elman.com including the slide shows from talks I've given at various meetings. My phone no. is 610-892-9580.

Re: Patent for a software application

Generally, you will obtain copyright protection for software. Software is generally not patentable unless you can show development of new algorithms or a very novel method (which we have obtained).

Gordon*Feinblatt is a leading firm for emerging companies and technologies in the Baltimore- Washington corridor. We provide a wide range of services to entrepeneurs, including intellectual property (which includes trademark, copyright, licensing, etc.). While we do no patent work, we have strong collaberations with crack patent firms in DC that give us excellent service and good pricing.

Look for us at www.gfrlaw.com and contact me about the needs you will have for your business.

Re: Patent for a software application

We do precisely the kind of patent work you are talking about. We handle software applications for a number of major companies as well as start-up businesses. We are particularly active on business method patents, which appears to be what you are seeking. We also have a trademark group and technology group to help with the trademark aspects, agreement work and corporate organization aspects of your business as it grows. We have 200+ attorneys and the largest patent practice of any general law firm in Missouri. We are headquartered in St. Louis, with offices in Kansas City and, of interest to you, in Washington, DC. We have among the lowest fees in the country and hence have clients from all over the country.

Don't let anyone tell you copyrights alone are what you need for software. That is out of date information and suggests lack of knowledge that about patenting software. Even if not us, I strongly suggest you go with a general practice firm with a large patent group so you catch the non-patent issues you may also face and that a pure patent firm might not notice.

Our website is www.armstrongteasdale.com and I maintain a separate website on intellectual property at www.burdlaw.com.

Bruce Burdick

[email protected]