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Guides
Dr. Rahul Dev
Patent attorney · PhD data scientist · the face of Councl
Two decades in technology law. He authors Councl’s guides, reviews what carries his name, and the data discipline behind the Councl Score is his.
- 20+ years in technology law
- 1,000+ patents filed, including 50+ PCT filings before the USPTO, EPO and WIPO
- PhD data scientist — the methodology behind the Councl Score is his
- Director at Hashchain Consulting Group; advisor to 18+ boards
- Named in Bloomberg, CNBC TV18 and the Economic Times
How Councl publishes
Guides are drafted against primary sources, checked for accuracy, and nothing publishes without human review. The scoring method is public — read how the Councl Score works.
Latest guides
- The USPTO Trademark API: What It Does and Where It BitesThe USPTO exposes US trademark data free through TSDR and bulk files, but with no fuzzy search, heavy formats and rate limits. It is a strong foundation, not a finished search feature.
- Best Trademark APIs in 2026: USPTO, EUIPO & TMviewNo single trademark API does everything. USPTO is free but raw, TMview is broad but owner-centric, commercial APIs are fast but rented. The right choice depends entirely on what you are building.
- How Much Does a Patent Attorney Cost?A patent attorney typically charges $8,000 to $15,000 to prepare and file a basic utility patent, plus USPTO fees of around $1,800 for a small entity. Complex inventions cost more.
- How Long Does a Trademark Take to Register?A straightforward US trademark registers in about ten months. The USPTO's official range is 12 to 18 months, which builds in time for office actions and the slower intent-to-use path.
- Trademark Office Action: What It Is and How to RespondAn office action is the USPTO examiner's list of legal problems with your application, not a final denial. You have three months to respond, and most of the issues are fixable.
- TM vs R: Which Trademark Symbol Can You Use?TM marks an unregistered claim and costs nothing to use. The R in a circle is only legal once the USPTO registers your mark, and using it early can hurt you. SM is the version for services.
- How to Do a Trademark Search Before You FileA trademark search checks whether your name conflicts with an existing one before you spend the non-refundable filing fee. The USPTO's free tool is only the first layer of a real clearance.
- International Trademark Registration: The Madrid ProtocolThe Madrid Protocol lets you file one international trademark application through your home office and seek protection in up to 132 territories. The catch is a five-year dependency on your home mark.