Patent & IP Resources
Practical guides written by attorney Tom Kading — answering the questions North Dakota inventors and businesses actually ask.
What Is Patent Prosecution? A Plain-Language Guide for Inventors
The complete lifecycle of a patent application — from filing through examination, office actions, and grant. What happens at every stage.
Read article →What Is a Provisional Patent Application and Do You Need One?
How the 12-month provisional patent works, what it does and doesn't protect, and when it makes sense as a first step.
Read article →Utility Patent vs. Design Patent: Which One Does Your Invention Need?
Key differences, costs, timelines, and industry examples to help you decide which type of patent best protects your invention.
Read article →How Long Does a Patent Last? Utility, Design, and Plant Patents Explained
Patent terms, maintenance fee schedules, and what happens when your patent expires — explained in plain language.
Read article →Patent Pending vs. Patented: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
What "patent pending" legally means, what protection it provides, and the difference from a granted patent.
Read article →Can You Patent Software in 2025? What Technology Companies Need to Know
The Alice/Mayo framework, what makes software claims patentable, and drafting strategies for technology startups.
Read article →How to Do a Patent Search Before You File — and Why It Matters
How to search USPTO and Google Patents effectively, what prior art means for your application, and when a professional opinion is worth it.
Read article →Do I Need a Patent Attorney in Fargo, ND — or Can I File a Patent Myself?
The real risks of pro se patent filing and what a registered USPTO attorney actually does to protect your invention.
Read article →What Does Patent Prosecution Cost in North Dakota?
USPTO fees, attorney fees, and total cost ranges for provisional, utility, and design patent applications — explained transparently.
Read article →What Is Patent Infringement — and What Can You Do About It?
Direct, indirect, and contributory infringement defined. How to respond if someone is copying your patent — or if you receive an infringement notice.
Read article →Patent, Trademark, or Trade Secret: What Should Your Business Protect First?
A practical prioritization framework for North Dakota startups and manufacturers — which type of IP creates the most value first.
Read article →IP Strategy for Startups: What to Protect in Your First Year of Business
The 5 IP assets most startups overlook, when to file your first patent, and how to build IP as a real company asset from day one.
Read article →How to License Your Patent and Generate Revenue from Your Invention
Exclusive vs. non-exclusive licenses, royalty rate benchmarks by industry, key contract terms, and common mistakes inventors make in licensing.
Read article →Trademark vs. Copyright: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?
What each type protects, how rights arise, duration, and which one a new business should prioritize first.
Read article →Protecting Agricultural Innovations: Patents and IP for North Dakota Farmers and Equipment Manufacturers
What's patentable in agriculture, PVPA vs. plant patents, trade secrets for formulations, and IP strategy for ND's ag equipment sector.
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