DC intellectual property law (IP law) and the providers thereof are important to the growing number of inventors who are seeking to go beyond a hobby and turn their invention into something profitable.

DC intellectual property law covers such topics as: intellectual property, copyrights, e-commerce and Internet transactions, fiduciary duty, trade secret, unfair competition litigation, intellectual property litigation, licensing, patent prosecution and protection and trademarks.

To find if you can be helped with intellectual property law in Washington, DC:

1. Determine if your need falls under any of the categories listed in paragraph 2.

2. Determine if your provider offers free initial consultations.

3. Be prepared to thoroughly explain your idea. Consider bringing in samples, mockups, diagrams or anything to give the consultant something to help him or her visualize what you are needing help with in the field of Washington, DC intellectual property law.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with an DC intellectual property law search engine

Skip generic search engines like Google and Yahoo. Instead, you can look up your DC intellectual property law searches by using a state-specific part of a national website.

I recommend: Contact a DC intellectual property law search through IntellectualPropertyLawFirms.com. FindLaw is another place to find an intellectual property lawyer in Washington, DC. Justia gives you a breakdown by county or city to help you find information on intellectual property law lawyers in Washington, DC.

Go with a larger company for your DC intellectual property law needs

Consider a national or international firm for your DC intellectual property law needs. Work with a trusted network for referrals, and choose a company with a quality reputation to help you with your questions about DC intellectual property laws.

I recommend: Read Consulting is a national firm that specializes in product liability, failure analysis, patent disputes and intellectual property. They even conduct reverse engineering. Litman Law has run over 30,000 patent searches. Invention Home can not only help inventors move their product to market, but they also specialize in putting companies in touch with inventors.

Look for state-wide practices that know their DC intellectual property law

Look state-wide for your provider of information on DC intellectual property law. Some firms represent only in their community or county. Finding one that is local to you can help you easily answer your questions about intellectual property and intellectual property law history in Washington, DC.

I recommend: WilmerHale can help you with your Washington, DC intellectual property laws needs. Greenberg & Lieberman can also assist you with Washington, DC IP law. Dunlap, Grubb & Weaver, PLLC focuses on intellectual property, business and commercial needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't be discouraged if your first try doesn't come through clean from your patent search. Work with a DC intellectual property law firm to strategize for the next time.
• •  Find a patent mentor to bounce questions off of. Take that person to lunch and discuss what worked for him or her and what failed. Learn from those mistakes. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.