The law firm where

everybody knows your name.®

Offerings

This page provides a quick overview of Clock Tower Law Group and the services we offer (some at no charge) to those interested in patents, trademarks, and domain names.

Please share this page with anyone interested in patents, trademarks, and domain names. You can sign up here to stay informed.

1. Free Initial Consultation

There is no cost to call us, no cost to fill out our contact form. When we talk on the phone (or meet in person), we can evaluate your trademark and explain your options. For example, if you have a logo trademark and a word trademark that you want to register, then we can explain why it makes sense to register one, neither, or both (and in which order). If you have a software product, then we can explain why it makes sense to file a provisional patent, a nonprovisional patent, or no patent at all. If you have a domain name that is being cybersquatted, then we can explain how to get it back.

Here's how to contact us:

Clock Tower Law Group
2 Clock Tower Place, Suite 255
Maynard, MA 01754-2545

tel: 978-823-0008
fax: 978-823-0888
info@clocktowerlaw.com

www.clocktowerlaw.com

Directions are here.

2. How We Do Trademarks

We charge $1500 to file a trademark application. This includes the USPTO's filing fee.

We will do a trademark search before we file the application and will keep you informed of our progress every step of the way. If the search turns up other trademarks that may be a problem, then we may recommend that you not proceed. In this case, we can either stop entirely and refund any unearned money or you can choose a new trademark and we can continue. (The search alone costs $200.)

See also Just Say Moo - How To Name And Brand Your Product To Make It Stand Out From The Crowd.

3. How We Do Patents

We usually recommend that inventors start with a search before proceeding with any sort of patent application. Our retainer for a patent search is $2000. If the search turns up something that is really close, then it may not make sense to proceed with a patent, but you would have saved yourself the additional expense of a patent application. If the search does not turn up something close, then the search report that we prepare can be used to help write the patent application.

We charge $300/hour to prepare patent applications. Costs vary depending on how involved each inventor is. We have a patent outline that we use for inventors who want to save money by writing their own first draft.

See also Drawing That Explains Patent Costs.

4. Fame, Fortune, and Fair Competition

We are in the business of helping your company compete fairly in a marketplace where not everybody plays by the same rules. Patents can help protect your inventions. Trademarks and domain names can help keep your corporate identity secure.

Many of our clients are startups. Three of our clients have been sold to public companies. Recent client success stories include Right Media's sale to Yahoo! in 2007 and Inceptor's sale to Idearc in 2006.

You can read some of our client's recommendations below. You can read more client testimonials and recommendations on LinkedIn (click the "view full profile" button).

"Clock Tower Law Group gets it. They get how patents and trademarks work in the real world. And they really get the Internet. I've used them for patents, copyrights, and domain name purchase negotiations. I highly recommend their services and will use them again."
     - Paul English, CTO/Cofounder, Kayak.com

"Clock Tower Law Group did a great job helping me file a couple of critical patents early in Right Media's lifecycle. I hadn't been through the patent process before, but I knew that getting patents that clearly represented the technologies and their business implications was critical. I tried working with a larger firm, but quickly became frustrated. I connected with Clock Tower, and while initially hesitant since we were in New York and they were in Boston, agreed to give it a try. Clock Tower was fantastic. The communication process was straightforward; Clock Tower Law Group picked up on the business and technical concepts quickly; the work product was excellent. I have nothing but good things to say. We continue to work with them on trademark and other IP projects, and actively refer people to Clock Tower Law Group. They're a great choice."
     - Brian O'Kelley, CEO, AppNexus (former CTO, Right Media)

"When I could not get my trademark application examiner question resolved, Clock Tower Law Group immediately resolved the issue. And hence the FiscalDoctor helps high growth clients again, instead of working on trademark issues."
     - Gary W. Patterson, Founder, FiscalDoctor Inc.

5. Even More Information

6. Networking, Networking, Networking!

If we can't help with your particular issue, then we probably know somebody who can. We have hundreds of connections on LinkedIn, which you can view here. Client testimonials are also there (click the "view full profile" button).

7. Information on Law and Technology

There is basic information about patents here. For more patent articles, see the patent category on Erik's blog here.

There is basic information about trademarks here. For more trademark articles, see the trademark category on Erik's blog here.

Some popular legal and technology "how to" articles are here.

8. LawLawLaw Newsletter

About three times per year, we publish the LawLawLaw newsletter. The name "LawLawLaw" has its roots in the fact that intellectual property law contains three major components: patents, trademark, and copyrights. But the newsletter covers other issues as well. The LawLawLaw tagline is "Technology, Law, Baseball, and Rock 'n' Roll."

Sign up for the free newsletter here.

9. Blog Feeds

About three times per week, Erik writes about technology, law, baseball, and rock 'n' roll on his blog. Subscribe to the blog's feed here.

For an even closer look at current issues, subscribe to this Google Reader Shared Items feed here.

10. Services

Clock Tower Law Group helps inventors, entrepreneurs, and established businesses acquire and maintain patents, trademarks, and domain names for their products and services. Most of our patents and trademarks are filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. But we can also help you with patents and trademarks in Canada, Europe, and elsewhere. See "How We Do Patents" and "How We Do Trademarks" above for more info.

11. Description

2005-04-24-ctlg-mary-josh-erik-499x183.jpg

Clock Tower Law Group® is the law firm where everybody knows your name.® You'll work with all three of us. That's Mary M. Keele (our office manager) on the left, Joshua D. Mather (one of our attorneys) in the middle, and Erik J. Heels (our founder) on the right.

Clock Tower Law Group understands the many challenges that face entrepreneurs because we're entrepreneurs too. Our founder is an MIT graduate and author with experience in both large companies and high-tech startups, including BBN, Cayman Systems, and Verio. Clock Tower Law Group was founded in 2001, and today, our clients range in size from a sole proprietor to a publicly traded company.

"Clock Tower Law Group has helped me and my startup ventures handle all of our copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property needs in a cost-effective yet thorough manner. Their attention to detail and commitment to their clients comes out in everything they do. I highly recommend Clock Tower Law Group."
     - Craig Valentine Brenner, CEO, New England Data Services