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Sean Goodwin

Sean Goodwin

Call/Email for Free Consultation - I help Entrepreneurs, Businesses and Families
  • Intellectual Property, Business Law, Estate Planning
  • Illinois
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Biography

I am a licensed patent attorney with the USPTO. If you have an idea for an invention and want to start a company based on that idea, I can help get your idea off the ground.

I help entrepreneurs start a business, register their intellectual property (i.e., patents, trademarks, copyrights), draft/negotiate any commercial contract agreements (e.g., employment, lease, distributor, services, licenses, assignments, website terms/privacy, etc.). I also have experience with marketing/advertising review for products and services (e.g., website review for legal liability). Specifically, I help healthcare companies with FDA and FTC regulatory review of foods, beverages, dietary supplements, cosmetics, drugs, and medical devices. If you need help with the language on your product labels/packaging, I can help.

If you are an established business, I can be your outside general counsel.

Please learn more about me at www.seangoodwinlegal.com.

Practice Areas
Intellectual Property
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Formation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions
Estate Planning
Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Fees
  • Free Consultation
    30 Minute Confidential Phone/Video Call
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Flexible payment plans available. Hourly Rate Prorated (6 minute increments / 0.1 hours). Venmo, QuickPay, Zelle Accepted.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois
Supreme Court of Illinois
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Of Counsel
Lexern Law Group
- Current
Counsel business owners, licensed professionals, and their families concerning a broad range of business and estate planning matters, including business organizations, business sales and acquisitions, business succession planning, and estate planning.
Managing Attorney
Goodwin Legal Services
- Current
Entrepreneurial Legal Services · Business formation (LLC, Corporation, Partnership) and Operating Agreements. · Counseling, procurement, and maintenance of Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights. · Protect and enforce intellectual property using Cease & Desist Letters, ICANN Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy, and App Store dispute resolution procedures. · Drafting/Negotiation of Contractual Agreements (e.g., licenses, assignments, leases, employment, independent contractor, privacy policies, non-disclosure, confidentiality, terms of use, podcast release, testimonials, copyright work-for-hire, etc.). · FDA/FTC Regulatory Compliance of foods, beverages, dietary supplements, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. · Liability review of marketing/advertising of goods services.
Education
Washington University School of Law
LL.M. (2012) | Intellectual Property and Technology Law
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Activities: Student Council of LL.M. Class
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University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
J.D. (2008) | Certificate in Intellectual Property Law
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Honors: Dean's List
Activities: Brehon Law Society
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Loyola University Chicago
B.S. (2000) | Chemistry, Emphasizing Biochemistry
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Professional Associations
Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
Member
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Speaking Engagements
Trademark Law Basics and Recent Supreme Court Updates, Union League Club of Chicago
ULC Chicago Lawyer's Group
Presentation on Trademark Law basics for non-legal guests, focusing on alcohol-related trademarks, trends in the industry, and the impact of the recent Supreme Court Case "Jack Daniel's Properties v. VIP Products" in which trademark parody law was clarified. In essence, trademarks are a source designator and trademark parodies of famous marks may not be used for commercial purposes.
Certifications
Patent Attorney
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Websites & Blogs
Website
Sean Goodwin Legal Services
Legal Answers
22 Questions Answered
Q. I'm looking to create and sell books commercially.
A: The titles of books cannot be copyrighted.

Foreign trademarks are not applicable unless you plan to sell in that country. If you are worried about trademarks in the U.S., I highly recommend hiring a qualified trademark attorney to run a clearance search to ensure you will not be infringing. If the clearance search results indicate you can use the trademark, then the next step is to apply for a federal registration so that you can lock out anyone else from using that trademark for the same product/service.
Q. Is the term/name “Wheel of Calamity” trademarked or copyrighted in any way?
A: The best answer you will get to this question is from a trademark attorney who has conducted a legal analysis based on a clearance search. I highly recommend that you hire a qualified attorney to do this before you start spending money on advertising and then realize that you will have to rebrand because you are infringing another's registered trademark. The next step is to apply for a federal trademark registration to protect your brand from would-be infringers.
Q. Patent 8728929 on 2014-05-20 What is the status of the patent at this moment. Thanks
A: This patent is alive and active.

In general, patent terms expire 20 years from the date of filing. This patent was filed on December 17, 2010.

In some cases, the applicant can request a patent term extension. This applicant received an additional 66 days to its term.

This patent should expire on February 21, 2031. After that, the public is allowed to make and use the invention without repercussions.
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Contact & Map
Sean Goodwin Legal Services
922 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Telephone: (312) 588-6762
Monday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Notice: Open by Appointment Only. All work is performed remotely.