Attorney Timothy F. Mills provides legal representation to entrepreneurs, engineers, business owners and management, academics, health professionals and corporate counsel throughout the United States, and internationally in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In addition, Attorney Mills consults for banks, accountants, financial firms, and business, commercial and general practice attorneys to serve the Intellectual Property needs of their clients.

Attorney Mills has experience in a broad range of Intellectual Property Law matters including but not limited to business methods, chemical, computer, electrical & software inventions, human & animal pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biochemical & genetic products, and numerous & varied mechanical inventions from A to Z.

Whether you are an individual, a solo entrepreneur, a scientist or engineer, an SME or Fortune 500, in retail or wholesale, a rancher or farmer, a non-profit institution, a partnership, limited liability company, a private or publicly traded company, or a national or international law firm, Attorney Timothy Mills can assist you with your national and international intellectual property needs.

The practice of Intellectual Property Law focuses on the protection of ideas and creativity. At times, Intellectual Property Law must also work to protect that creativity by fashioning remedies when an idea has been stolen or infringed. If negotiations are not successful, the Federal Courts provide remedies through Restraining Orders and Damages.

Intellectual Property Law generally includes not only the practice areas of Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets and Unfair Competition & Trade Disparagement, but also the related areas of Software, e-Commerce on the Internet, Branding, Intellectual Property Acquisition, Transfer, Licensing and Marketing, Employment Issues including Non-Compete and Non-Disclosure Agreements, advice related to Patent Misuse and Antitrust considerations, and related Commercial Matters.

What is a Patent?
In the United States a Patent is a property right granted by the government for a limited period of time to an inventor "…to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention…”. In exchange, the Inventor must allow the idea to be published. Most Patents are granted for new inventions in the areas of electrical, mechanical, chemical, biochemical, and computer sciences. More recently, United States law has allowed patenting of new business methods to stimulate competition. In June, 1995, the life a United States utility patent was extended from 17 to 20 years. The design patent remains at 14 years duration.

What is a Trademark?
A Trademark is used by the manufacturer to identify the source of goods or services and to distinguish the same from others. A Trademark or Service Mark not only protects the product owner but also protects the consumer in that the source and quality of goods purchased are consistently identified to a particular company. Once registered by the United States Trademark Office, a Trademark must be renewed every ten years to remain in effect.

What is a Copyright?
A Copyright protects the expression of "original works of authorship" such as literature, art, music, software and computer chip mask works. The Copyright is protectable for (A.) seventy (70) years after death of the author, or (B.) by an employer of a work-for-hire author for ninety five (95) years after publication or one hundred twenty (120) years after creation, whichever comes first.

What is a Trade Secret?
A Trade Secret is information valuable to a business that is not generally known and that the company takes reasonable steps to keep confidential. In theory, a Trade Secret could be kept 'secret' indefinitely, i.e., the recipe for a "secret" soft drink formula. Note that a Trade Secret is private, non-disclosed information. But a Trade Secret is no longer a secret if it can be discovered by reverse engineering. By comparison, to obtain a patent and exclusive enforceable rights over a period of time, an Inventor must disclose the invention to the public in a patent application.

Frequently, issues of Business, Corporate or Commercial Law also arise in relation to Intellectual Property Law matters. A common example is when a person acquires a patent, trademark, or copyright but then has no experience in commercializing the product. Attorney Mills can refer you to experienced lenders, attorneys and business professionals to provide business and planning advice about formation, commercial contracts and leasing, franchising and joint ventures, buying and selling, reorganization and conversion, financing and venture capital, public and private offerings, officer and director liability, and employee matters.

In addition to his law practice, Attorney Mills has had firsthand experience in the day-to-day owning and operating of several retail and service businesses. This experience has provided him with a unique set of skills as an Attorney, Entrepreneur, Business Owner and Employer to counsel his clients – whether individuals or CEOs - with the personal representation and solutions they need. Contact Attorney Timothy F. Mills today to speak to an Intellectual Property Attorney with first-hand experience in running successful businesses and commercializing products.