Responding to a Demand Letter

A “demand letter” can complicate your use of a product or idea as your own because it asserts that you could potentially be infringing on an already existing patent. The demand letter will also likely ask you to pay for a license to use that existing patent, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. While you are not legally required to respond to a demand letter, a response is one option among others that some Fort Worth inventors choose. The intellectual property attorneys of Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C., can review your options upon receipt of a demand letter and can help you decide the best course of action for your situation.

Possible Ways to Respond to a Demand Letter

The USPTO offers several possible responses to a demand letter that Fort Worth inventors may benefit from. These possibilities include:

• Requesting evidence, usually with increasing specificity
• Refuse to respond at all, to this or future letters
• Negotiate with an owner of the existing patent
• Sue the patent owner

Obviously, not all of these options are going to suit your exact needs, which is why consultation with an experienced intellectual property attorney in Fort Worth can be hugely beneficial.

Contact an Intellectual Property Lawyer in Fort Worth

If you or someone you know has received a demand letter regarding a patent, then you may want to consult with an intellectual property attorney about your options for response. Contact those at Gagnon, Peacock & Vereeke, P.C., today by calling our Fort Worth offices at (214) 824-1414, to set up a consultation and discuss your legal position.