Legal Question in Intellectual Property in New York
I have a patent that I had since 2007. I been doing a search on line with the patent number and found a online company that had my patent included with several others on a list for PDF downloads for a price. Is this something that is legal to do? Charging someone for a PDF file of my patent without my permission? My patent # is 7288110
Thank you for your time and assistance..
Stacey M. Levine
Patent Owner
#7288110
3 Answers from Attorneys
Yes, it's legal.
It's also a trap for suckers. Anyone can download the patent for free at the USPTO website.
A patent is a public document issued by the USPTO. The file in and of itself is available on the internet for download. This just a service that they provide and is legal. Companies such as Derwent and Lexis Nexis provide this service, especially for attorneys.
As a Franchise Attorney I agree with the other attorneys. As a patent holder, you can only complain (take action) if someone infringes on your patent. Consult with a good business or franchise attorney in your area for specific advice.
Mr. Franchise - Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D.
Franchise Foundations, a Professional Corporation