Before applying for a patent and/or trademark, it is important to make sure that you have freedom to operate (“FTO”). To put it another way, it’s important to make sure that nobody else has patented the same invention and/or trademarked the same name or symbol. Given the vast amount of IP available in the U.S.—much less the rest of the world—conducting an FTO search may seem like an overwhelming task. The IP professionals at Gallium Law have extensive experience in conducting FTO searches, and would be happy to help you determine whether you have FTO prior to moving forward with any patent and/or trademark applications.
An FTO search for a patentable invention takes the form of a patent search, where we research issued patents and published patent applications related to your invention. Analysis of the search results helps you, as the inventor, better understand what has already been done in that inventive space so that you can move forward with your product development and patent application, or, if necessary, adjust your product and application to differentiate yourself from the prior art.
An FTO search for a trademark takes the form of a clearance search, where we evaluate your desired mark and any existing marks and determine if there may be a likelihood of confusion between your mark and the prior art. In the event that an identical, or confusingly similar, mark already exists, we can help you choose a new word or symbol in order to avoid the likelihood of confusion (which would result in rejection of your trademark application by the USPTO).
The importance of due diligence cannot be overstated. Imagine investing a great deal of time and money into a project, for example developing a product or brand, only to find out later that a similar product and/or brand already exists and you are not able to gain patent and/or trademark protection. Hiring an experienced IP firm to do your due diligence, through patent searches and/or trademark clearance searches, can prevent this situation. Due diligence should also be one of the first steps in the process of purchasing an IP portfolio from another inventor or business, to confirm the value of the portfolio. Our team is available to conduct thorough due diligence for your own idea or for the potential purchase of an existing portfolio. Please fill out this Contact Form and we will be in touch soon, or call us at 651-256-9480.
Wes and the Gallium Law team have been a pleasure to work with. They guided us seamlessly through the provisional patent process for our product, providing expert advice and prompt communication at every step. I highly recommend them to any startup or business looking for strategic, dependable IP counsel. Looking forward to continuing our partnership!

Mike L.
via Google
I called several firms about assisting me with developing my patent and the Gallium Law firm was only one, nationwide, to return my phone call and consult with me. That is respect no matter what IP you have, or who you are. They are very professional and takes care of their customers. The work was thorough and detailed. I am very satisfied with the work they have done for me. I would recommend this law firm to anyone reading.

Shawn
via Google
I highly recommend Gallium Law for your company's patent needs. Wes and crew are a stellar team that helped us get our product design utility patent successfully patented with the USPTO. After they drafted the patent application and materials, it was clear that having expert professionals craft the application was absolutely necessary. There are countless details in how they executed the application that we never would have been able to do ourselves. They did a tremendous job in taking the patent to the finish line.

Robert P.
via Google
The Gallium team have been and continue to be phenomenal partners to work with. They have been the most responsive, creative, engaging, and innovative IP counsel I have ever collaborated with. Gallium is happy to support early stage start-ups and provide the same attention and support you would typically only receive when working for large multi-nationals. I would recommend their team to anyone looking to generate and expand their IP portfolio.

Ryan B.
via Google
Great experience! The Gallium team did a great job filing my patent. They also did a great job of clearly explaining my options to protect my IP, and that made a big difference to me as a new inventor.

Daniel B.
via Google
I have worked with Gallium law for many years. In my opinion they are unique in their approach of "winning" patents for customers like myself. I worked very close with their professional patent law attorneys, and turned obstacles and initial rejections to complete successful patent allowances. They are very reasonable with their budgets and willing to accommodate your personal needs and requests. It is the best patent law company I ever dealt with.

Gideon E.
via Google
Our publicly traded company has worked with Wes and his team at Gallium Law for about a decade. They are consummate IP professionals and highly organized - which is essential for coordinating dates, fees, etc. We trust Gallium Law with our most highly prized assets - our IP. You should, too.

David M.
via Google
Gallium Law is an incredible Intellectual Property Legal team! I am continually blown away with their ability to translate our medical device design ideas into patent claims and diagrams. They are very experienced in the interventional (catheters and generators) medical device space. My customers have had great experiences working with Gallium and I recommend them to all medical device innovators.

Brady H.
via Google
I have always been very happy with the great work of the Gallium team. They are patent experts who really take an interest in helping their clients succeed. Wes is particularly talented and results oriented. Not only is Wes an excellent patent attorney, he's also a great engineer with an MBA, so he understands legal issues from many useful perspectives.

Eric W.
via Google
I thoroughly enjoyed working with the Gallium Law team on my provisional patent application and intend to work with them on future filings. Wes and Isabel were knowledgeable and cared about understanding my intellectual property. I appreciated their advice on filing timelines and drafting strategy. I highly recommend their firm.
