Welcome Inventors, Business Owners, New Start-Ups and other Visitors

Have questions on patents, trademarks, or copyrights? We would like to hear from you even if your project is not ready for submission. Don't risk losing rights by delaying! Our experienced patent attorneys help clients nationwide and around the globe protect their ideas and their business. We can help you whether you are an individual with a new idea or an established company with existing product lines so that you don't lose intellectual property rights to your inventions and creations. Send us a message below to set up a free consultation or to ask us a question.

Our Commitment to Our Clients:

A free initial consultation to determine your needs and goals*
Balanced, personalized legal strategies tailored to your business goals with consideration for your financial requirements
Options clearly and candidly explained prior to project initiation
Fixed price quotes in advance for many types of projects to avoid billing surprises after the fact
Friendly, one-on-one personal service to clients, with professional attention to detail in all matters
Strategic use of e-mail, telephones and faxes to effectively confer and communicate with clients when in-person meetings are not practical
All the advantages of a small firm atmosphere, while providing the comprehensive technology and legal depth of a much larger firm
Located near the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Old Towne, Alexandria, Virginia to efficiently and effectively represent clients throughout the U.S. and world before the USPTO

Learn More Our Attorneys

Experienced, Registered Patent Attorneys Ready to Help with Your Patent, Trademark & Copyright Needs

MBV is a small ("boutique") law firm comprised of highly experienced, registered patent attorneys serving clients throughout the U.S. and around the world. Our patent attorneys all have engineering degrees, are former patent examiners, and have worked in the patent field for at least 20 years. While our experience allows us to work some of the most complex projects, as a small business oursevles, we also enjoy working with individuals and small to mid-size business. We help our clients to establish and maintain appropriate, personally tailored intellectual property strategies to complement the growh of their businesses while educating clients as to the advantages and limitations of intellectual property.

Learn More About MBV

Contact Our Patent Attorneys for a Free Initial Consultation*


Robert N. Blackmon, Esq.	RNB@MBV-IP.com
James J. Merek, Esq.	JJM@MBV-IP.com
John P. Shannon, Esq.	JPS@MBV-IP.com
David H. Voorhees, Esq.	DHV@MBV-IP.com
New Clients/New Matters:	Info@MBV-IP.com

(Click on a name to see the Attorney's biography and full contact info)

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Submit a General Question to our Free Help Desk*


On-Line Help Desk	Or Via E-mail: Info@MBV-IP.com

By Mail, Telephone or Fax

Merek, Blackmon &Voorhees, LLC
673 S. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.684.5633
(fax) 703.684.5637

Client Testimonial

"Mr. Blackmon took the time to discuss options and made good recommendations. He always provided estimates of the cost of work and has consistently met or been under them. I would highly recommend him for both Patent and Trademark work."
Bill Cumbie, Hampton, VA

What Services Do You Need?

"I am just getting started. How do I patent my idea? How long do I have to file a patent application?" See our "Patent Overview and Timeline" or send our Free Help Desk a general question about patenting your invention."

"I have a great idea and want to know if my idea can be patented." A patent search is a great way to find out if your idea is new and patentable. Check out our Index of self-service patent search sites or contact us to set up a free initial consultation to figure the next step that is best for you.

"I am ready to file a patent application. What's next?" Our patent attorneys all have experience as former Patent Examiners and are ready to help you. Submit an Invention Disclosure Form for a quote for applying for a patent, whether by filing a provisional, utility, design or PCT application.

"I have already filed my own application, and I received an office action. What do I need to do to respond to the Patent Office?" See our "About Patents" description of the flow of applications through the Patent Office or contact us for a quote to prepare an amendment/response to the Patent Office or to conduct an in-person interview with the Examiner.

"My patent application was published ("Pre-Grant Publication") and is now a patent. Where do I look for companies to manufacture my invention or to sell my idea to? What are my options for selling my patent or getting royalties for licensing?" The Thomas Register is a database of manufacturers and suppliers that may provide you with a good place to start. As you proceed, our patent attorneys can help you with your continuing legal needs from preparing a royalty agreement to litigation to assignment.

CONTACT MBV Learn More about Patents

"I need to protect my company name. Can I reserve a trademark / name for our product?" See our Trademark Guides or send our Free Help Desk a question.

"How do I apply for a trademark or servicemark to protect the name of my company or product?" Conducting a trademark search or filing a trademark application are typical ways to start the process towards protecting your valuable investment in a logo, slogan or business name. See the U.S. Trademark Office Trademark Search page (TESS) or contact our attorneys to find out about these and other trademark services.

CONTACT MBV Learn More about Trademarks

"I need to protect my software, work of art, sound recording, publication, etc." Copyrights can be used to protect artistic expressions from sound recording to sculptures to books to building designs to computer programs. See the Copyright Office Guide to Copyrights or contact us to find out if your works are eligible for protection. Our attorneys can help you protect your intellectual property rights in your works.

"Will I own software or other works that I hire someone else to create?" See the Copyright Office Guide to Works for Hire. Our attorneys can help you protect intellectual property rights in your works whether they are created by you or by someone else. Avoid confusion over "works for hire" by contacting us before you engage/contract someone so that your rights can be protected.

Learn More about Copyrights

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*Please submit only non-confidential information to us until requested to ensure that no conflicts arise with (for example) other clients that we represent. Merek, Blackmon & Voorhees ("MBV") does not guarantee that any particular question will be answered or within a particular time period. If this is an urgent matter, we recommend that you call our office for faster service. Because of possibile conflicts of interest, you agree to waive or that you may have waived any claim of confidentiality against MBV and its affiliates and assigns for use of any information submitted via this website or any link or e-mail address contained herein prior to such express authorization or request by MBV.

Merek, Blackmon & Voorhees provides a free, limited initial consultation. This consultation will introduce the firm, will help MBV determine your current standing or situation and may begin discussion of a broad plan for meeting your goals. The meeting typically includes an estimation of costs to proceed with a particular project or an explanation of how a project will be billed. It will usually be necessary to continue with a fee-based meeting to prepare complete legal advice for a particular situation or to initiate any legal project, should you decide to hire MBV. You will be advised prior to any fees accruing and the basis for any such fee or cost.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This website is not intended to create, and does not create, an attorney-client relationship between you and Merek, Blackmon & Voorhees, LLC. You should not rely or act on any information on this website. Any information MBV has provided on this website or has provided to you in responses to general "help desk" inquiries or to frequently asked questions, etc., or in blogs, tweets, streaming videos, how-to videos, etc. prior to your being accepted in writing as a client of MBV should be considered as being for general informational purposes only. Any such information contained is not legal advice or a substitute for seeking legal counsel for a particular issue or matter. You should contact an authorized attorney or other counsel to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.

MBV does not wish to represent anyone desiring representation based upon viewing this website in any state or jurisdiction where this website does not comply with any or all laws and ethical rules of that state. Please see http://mbv-ip.com/patentattorney_bios.php for a listing of the jurisdications to which our patent attorneys are admitted or contact us directly.