SECURING, ENFORCING, AND AVOIDING INFRINGEMENT OF U.S., INTERNATIONAL, AND FOREIGN PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND COPYRIGHTS; SECURING TRADE SECRETS; AND AVOIDING UNFAIRUNFAIR COMPETITIONCOMPETITION This paper contains general information about patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition, and is intended to make the reader aware of issues in intellectual property law. Because there are exceptions to many, if not all, of the rules mentioned in this paper, and because laws and rules change frequently, the reader should discuss his particular situation with a patent attorney before making any decision regarding his intellectual property rights and responsibilities. Charles C. Garvey, Jr., Patent Attorney** Gregory C. Smith, Patent Attorney* Seth M. Nehrbass, Patent Attorney Brett A. North, Patent Attorney Vanessa M. D'Souza, Patent Attorney Julia M. FitzPatrick, Patent Attorney** Mackenzie D. Rodríguez, Patent Attorney Julie Rabalais Chauvin, Patent Attorney Mark N. Melasky, Patent Attorney GARVEY, SMITH, NEHRBASS & NORTH, L.L.C. PATENT ATTORNEYS Three Lakeway Center, Suite 3290 3838 North Causeway Boulevard Metairie, LA 70002; U.S.A. Tel.: 504-835-2000; Fax: 504-835-2070 e-mail:
[email protected] www.neworleanspatents.com Northshore Office: No. 7 Boston Commons 832 East Boston Street Covington, Louisiana 70433, U.S.A. Tel: (985) 635-6892; Fax: (985) 635-6972 *Northshore office **Northshore office also +not licensed in Louisiana US patent law has recently changed. Please check with us about first-inventor-to-file changes and the importance of filing patent applications early. © 1998-2016 GARVEY, SMITH, NEHRBASS & NORTH, L.L.C. PATENT ATTORNEYS PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADE SECRETS CAVEAT: This paper contains general information about patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and is intended to make the reader aware of issues in intellectual property law.