What we do
Practice areas
Patents, trademarks and copyrights, from the first filing to licensing, enforcement and federal court.
Newhope Law, PC is a boutique intellectual property law firm. We represent clients in patents (protecting inventions), trademarks (protecting company names and logos), trade dress, and copyrights (protecting artistic expression). Once your rights are in place, we advise on licensing, infringement and related matters. The firm also files reexamination requests to challenge patent validity, and represents both plaintiffs and defendants in U.S. District Court litigation.
Patents
A patent protects an invention or innovation. The patent owner can stop others from making, using or selling the invention. Our patent work includes:
- Utility and design patent applications
- Patent infringement opinions
- Patentability opinions
- Patent searches and state-of-the-art reports
- Reexamination requests to invalidate patent claims
- Sending and responding to cease-and-desist letters
- Patent infringement litigation in federal court
- Filing or defending complaints at the U.S. International Trade Commission or with U.S. Customs
- Overall patent strategy and IP portfolio review
- Preparing and recording patent assignments and license agreements
Trademarks
Registering your logos, company names and distinctive packaging preserves your brand identity and your customers’ expectations.
- Trademark applications. A trademark, whether a word mark or a design (logo) mark, should be registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the use of the name. Without registration, the owner has only common-law rights. See how to start an application.
- Litigation. Trademark infringement, unfair competition under Section 43(a) of the Lanham Act, and trade dress claims in federal court.
- Enforcement. Recording trademarks with U.S. Customs and enforcing registrations.
- Contracts. Drafting and recording trademark licenses and assignments.
Copyright
We handle copyright registration and licensing agreements. The best time to register a copyright is right away: registration makes you eligible for attorneys’ fees and statutory damages, which deters infringement. Protected work can include music, product packaging and artwork.
Domain name disputes
Instead of filing a lawsuit in federal district court, a complainant can challenge ownership of a domain name through arbitration, which is usually faster and less costly.
Corporate law
Intellectual property matters sometimes require corporate filings, drafting and advice. For example:
- Incorporation as a C corporation, S corporation or LLC, including articles of incorporation, bylaws and shareholder agreements
- Corporate name changes, updated bylaws and minutes, and shareholder and officer meetings
- Intellectual property licensing agreements, and contract drafting and review
Litigation
Some intellectual property matters go to court, and some of those cases go to trial. We represent both plaintiffs and defendants.
Tax Court
Clement Cheng is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. We assist victims of tax scams and embezzlement. Call us if your business partner filed false tax returns to cover up theft. This issue often comes up alongside other intellectual property disputes with former partners.
