Intellectual Property Overview — Protect ideas, brands, and competitive edge

Building a product or brand? We help you secure and leverage the four pillars of IP—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets—so you can launch confidently, attract investment, and defend your position in the market.

  • Patents: protect novel, useful, and non-obvious inventions and processes.
  • Trademarks: safeguard brand names, logos, and slogans that identify your goods/services.
  • Copyrights: secure rights in original works (software code, designs, content, media).
  • Trade secrets: preserve confidential know-how and formulas with policies and contracts.
Plan My IP Portfolio Call 720-499-0000

Based in Castle Rock and serving the Denver metro, with growing state-by-state coverage.

Attorney and founder reviewing patent drawings and trademark search results with a startup team

Who we help

Founders, product teams, and creators who need clear, practical IP protection—without slowing growth.

  • Startups aligning patents, trademarks, and brand domains pre-launch
  • SMBs expanding nationally who need enforceable brand protection
  • Software, SaaS, and design teams structuring ownership and licenses
  • Manufacturers and consumer brands managing trade secrets and NDAs
  • Content creators and agencies enforcing copyrights and usage rights
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IP assets we protect

  • Utility and design patents, provisional and non-provisional applications
  • Trademarks for names, logos, and slogans across classes and states
  • Copyrights for code, marketing collateral, web content, and media
  • Trade secret programs: NDAs, access controls, and employee policies
  • Licensing agreements and IP assignments during hiring or M&A
Ask about your situation Explore IP services
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Our approach: business-first, plain-language, and coordinated

We map your products and go-to-market plan to the strongest, most cost-effective IP protections. Then we coordinate with your contracts, employment, and potential litigation posture to reduce risk and maximize value.

  • Practical filing strategy—what to file, where, and when
  • Brand clearance and specimen planning to avoid refusals
  • Trade secret programs aligned with onboarding/offboarding
  • Cross-practice insight: corporate, employment, litigation
  • Responsive updates by your preferred channel

For neutral primers, explore the USPTO and U.S. Copyright Office: uspto.gov and copyright.gov .

When to file: align IP with your product and brand lifecycle

Patents

  1. Pre-disclosure: consider a provisional filing before public demos
  2. 12-month window: convert to a non-provisional to preserve priority
  3. International: evaluate PCT timelines for global protection
  4. Ongoing: update claim strategy as your product iterates

Trademarks

  • Name selection: clear marks early to avoid rebranding
  • Intent-to-use: reserve rights before launch
  • Specimens: plan packaging/website use that satisfies USPTO
  • Maintenance: docket renewals to keep rights active

Copyrights & trade secrets

  • Copyright: register high-value content and software releases
  • Trade secrets: implement NDAs and access controls from day one
  • Employment: use IP assignment and invention disclosure forms
  • Enforcement: track use and licenses to prevent leakage
See our full client process Request an IP filing timeline

Fees & billing

Expect clarity. Where appropriate, we offer predictable, fixed-fee filings for trademarks and copyrights. Patent work and complex IP strategies typically use hourly or hybrid structures. Every engagement includes a written scope and timeline.

  • Flat-fee trademark applications (standard classes), with optional searches
  • Copyright registrations for code, media, and design bundles
  • Hourly or hybrid patent drafting, prosecution, and office action responses
  • Licensing, assignments, and IP diligence for transactions

What impacts cost?

  • Search scope and number of classes for trademarks
  • Complexity of patent claims and prior art landscape
  • Volume of works and bundling strategy for copyrights
  • International filings and translation needs
  • Enforcement posture (monitoring, oppositions, or litigation)
Get a fee estimate Call 720-499-0000

Strategic, cross-disciplinary counsel

Many IP issues intersect with corporate, employment, and litigation questions. Our team coordinates these moving parts so your filings, contracts, and enforcement all work together.

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Led by Grant Van Der Jagt, JD — Founding Attorney, Castle Rock, CO

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to entry‑level IP questions. Your facts will drive specific recommendations.

Can I file a trademark before launch?
Yes—an intent‑to‑use application can reserve rights while you prepare to sell or offer services. You’ll later submit proof of use to complete registration.
Do copyrights need registration?
Rights arise upon creation, but registration provides powerful benefits—public record, statutory damages (in many cases), and eligibility to sue in federal court. See the U.S. Copyright Office at copyright.gov .
How do trade secrets differ from patents?
Patents require public disclosure but grant time‑limited exclusivity. Trade secrets rely on confidentiality measures (policies, NDAs, access controls); there’s no registration, and protection lasts as long as secrecy is maintained.
Can I patent software?
Sometimes. Patent eligibility for software depends on whether claims are directed to a patent‑eligible application (not an abstract idea) and meet novelty and non‑obviousness requirements. We evaluate your solution, claims strategy, and prior art early.
How long does a trademark last?
Indefinitely, if you continue to use the mark and file required maintenance documents and renewals at set intervals. We docket deadlines and can assist with filings. See uspto.gov/trademarks for maintenance basics.
Provisional vs. non‑provisional patents—what’s the difference?
A provisional establishes an early filing date without examination; it expires in 12 months unless you file a non‑provisional. The non‑provisional is examined and can mature into an issued patent. Many teams use provisionals to secure priority during product iteration.

Move from ideas to protection—start your IP plan today

On your first call, we outline options, fees, and a realistic filing timeline. Clear steps, coordinated documents, and responsive updates.

Speak With IP Counsel Call 720-499-0000
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Page last updated: September 12, 2025