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Clarity

Marc Whipple

Chicago, IL

Decades in the technology and gaming/entertainment sector.
Former General Counsel of multiple game development companies.
Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks in every field of technology.
Development and Licensing Agreement Consulting at every scale and at every stage of business development.

$5.00/min

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Business Development Game Development Video Games Mobile Games Patent Strategy Patent Prosecution Software Patents Trademarks Copyright Law Trade Secrets

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Video Game Development

I have been advising video game developers and others in the industry for decades, at every level from single-person contractors to AAA titles. I can advise you on the basics or provide insight into complex development and licensing deals. (Note: Specific legal advice is not provided unless you become my client.)

Startup Basics

What are all the things you need to do to get your new business off the ground? From legal and regulatory questions to "how do I protect my business name," I can help you check the boxes and get off to the right start. (Note: Specific legal advice is not provided unless you become my client.)

Patent Strategy

Is a patent the best way to protect your business? What are the costs up front and over time? I am an experienced patent lawyer and can discuss the pros and cons of patenting your innovations with you. (Note: Specific legal advice is not provided unless you become my client.)

So you've created something amazing - a new game, your first book, a catchy piece of music - and you want to protect it. I can discuss the basics of copyright law with you and talk about the best ways to protect your creation. (Note: Specific legal advice is not given unless you become my client.)

Trademark Touchstones

Should you register a trademark? What's it cost? What are the benefits? What *doesn't* it help with? I can review the pros and cons of claiming a trademark in the marketplace and registering it with the Trademark Office in one or more countries. (Note: Specific legal advice is not provided unless you become my client.)

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Answers

Marc Whipple answered

How does one start a software company these days without being clobbered by patent trolls?

I am an experienced technology lawyer and a registered patent attorney. Nothing in my posts should be taken as legal advice.

The short answer is you can't, because people don't have to be right to sue. The slightly longer answer is that you talk to a patent attorney familiar with software patents who can advise you on the risks and how to manage them. I'd be glad to go over the basics/highlights of the question with you on a call.

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Patent Strategy

Patent Litigation

Software Patents

Marc Whipple answered

Is there any place where I can get a list of all the trademarks that get submitted daily?

(I am a trademark attorney. Nothing in my posts should be taken as legal advice.)

There are multiple services that will "distill" this for you by field/industry, but if all you want to do is see all the registrations that were filed on any given day, you can do that at the Trademark Office's website for free.

Just go to uspto.gov, find the "Searching Trademarks" link under "Trademarks," and pick the "Structured" search. Then enter the date you're interested in in the form YYYYMMDD, and pick "filing date" in the search menu. (You can leave the other one blank.) You will get a list, 100 elements at a time, of all the registrations filed on that date. The buttons to go back and forth are somewhat confusingly labeled "Next List" and "Prev List."

You should be aware that it takes a few days for new applications to post - for instance, today is 1/17 and the latest applications are the ones from 1/15.

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Trademarks

Marc Whipple answered

I need help with copyright/intellectual property with the client.

I am an attorney: nothing in this post should be considered legal advice. I am an experienced intellectual property attorney and a registered patent attorney.

You have a few options:

1) You could try to register a trademark for the name of your program, if you just want to make sure that competitors use a different name.

2) You could try to patent the method of your coaching program.

3) You could register the copyrights on all your coaching materials so they can't make direct copies of them.

4) You could include nondisclosure/noncompetition language in your coaching program contract so you can sue any clients who re-use your coaching program materials for their own benefit.

I have worked with therapists and life coaches on similar matters and would be glad to discuss it with you on a call.

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Trademarks

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Member since January 2019