Legal Question in Intellectual Property in New York

Re: patent law/ intellectual property

I am a paralegal for Mr. Hudspeth.

Although this has happened in the past, it is not usual for an attorney to steal a client's idea. Because a patent is in the Federal realm, you can retain an attorney anywhere in the U.S. We handle other types of Intellectual Property, but not patents. We can certainly refer you to patent attorneys we have worked with in the Phoenix area in the past.

That is, if you trust us to refer you to one who won't steal your idea.

Re: patent law/ intellectual property

IP sttorneys deal with this sort of situation all the time. If word were to get around that they have done something improper with someone's idea, it would be the end of their practice.

Re: patent law/ intellectual property

Adding to Mr. Browde's excellent response to your question, not only would taking a client's idea be the end of the attorney's practice in terms of his or her reputation with the public, but the attorney would be disbarred from the practice of law by the state(s) where s/he is admitted AND disbarred from the practice of patent prosecution by the US Patent & Trademark Office, fined a LOT of money by the court, possibly liable under a civil malpractice action to the client, and possibly imprisoned if the circumstances were sufficiently egregious.

It just really isn't worth it to us to steal a client's idea.

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