America gains both fame and fortune

Chapter 38 Design Patents
He found a place to buy a few newspapers, checked the relevant information columns, made a few phone calls, identified a law firm that could provide professional services, and went there immediately.

Martin was received by Gary Hodgson, a patent lawyer who started out as a patent agent.

Hodgson first stated the charging standards for patent consultation.

Martin didn't waste time and went straight to the point: "I have a product and I want to apply for a design patent, but how do I describe the appearance of the product?"

Hodgson simply reminded: "It must be an industrial product and have a new, original and decorative design."

Martin asked, "What about the appearance that reality has?"

Hodgson asked, "Did you bring the product or drawings?"

Martin shook his head and thought for a moment: "For example, the appearance of the product is based on my brother's prototype..."

Hodgson stared at this weirdo with his mouth slightly open, thinking, are you kidding? He reminded again: "Mr. Davis, we are discussing a very serious patent issue."

Martin said seriously: "I am serious!"

Hodgson thought for a moment and said, "It's impossible to pass because it's not original and not novel enough..."

The more he talked, the more weird it was. Where the hell did this come from? Hodgson’s professionalism made him resist the urge to swear. He clenched his fist and shook it: “Like this, it’s common in real life, and people have reached a consensus on it. It’s impossible for the appearance patent to be approved.”

This is not quite what Martin had imagined.

Hodgson continued: “If you insist on doing it, it’s just a waste of time and money.”

Martin understood another meaning: "Does patent application take time and effort?"

Hodgson said: "It takes an average of 19 months from filing an application to getting a decision on design patents, and 24 months on invention patents."

"Thank you, lawyer." Martin asked Hodgson for a business card, paid the consulting fee, and left the firm.

Back in the car, Martin took the steering wheel but did not start the car.

It is normal for assumptions to differ from reality.

In this case, some adjustments need to be made based on reality.

Martin drove to Duluth, a satellite city of Atlanta, where a number of import and export trading companies are concentrated.

They do import and export, and also accept small commodity customization.

Martin originally wanted to buy the cheaper Yiwu-made products, but after asking several Chinese companies, he found out that it would take a month just to ship them here, so he finally chose a local trading company.

After contacting more than a dozen companies on the spot, Martin circled a few and asked for their contact information.

Then rushed to the ATL Freedom Club.

Having made an appointment with Kelly Gray, Martin came to the hall where the last press conference was held. He said something to the front desk staff and went up to the third floor.

The Freedom Club was quite busy with people coming in and out.

Martin entered the office where Kelly Gray was signing documents: "Wait a moment."

"You go ahead and do your work." Martin sat on the sofa in the reception area and picked up a newspaper.

The Atlanta Free Press is the most famous liberal media in Georgia.

The report on the third page of the newspaper mentioned Milton, whom Martin had previously paid attention to, and criticized Milton as worthless.

Martin found the reason from the Constitution on the same day. Milton claimed that the Methodist Church was actively carrying out skills training to help women find jobs, and angrily criticized the Liberal Church for only talking big but not doing anything practical.

Kelly Gray finished processing the documents and came to the reception area, handing a file bag to Martin: "The formalities are completed. Starting this week, you will also serve as the social investigator of the Freedom Society."

She added emphatically: "Yes, it's paid. It's $200 a week."

"Thank you, Kelly. This will make my finances more comfortable." Martin knew what Kelly was concerned about and said, "I came here today because of one more thing. Last time we talked about this, Milton from the Methodist Church is attacking us again. I am going to launch a counterattack against him."

To make a gun, you must have the awareness to make a gun, not to mention that he has other ideas. Several directors of the Freedom Society focused on discussing Milton, and Kelly was very concerned: "Tell me about it."

Martin said: "All I can think of are some stupid ways. Recently, everyone in the club is very annoyed. I persuaded the boss to mobilize the club members to protest to the Methodist Church, and the target is Milton."

He took the initiative to hand the gun to Kelly, and Kelly of course held it tightly, thinking for a moment: "Okay."

After the two had contact several times, Martin specifically learned about the situation of Kelly Gray and the Freedom Club: "These days, I have been thinking about it over and over again, and I have some ideas, but I am not sure if they are useful."

Kelly Gray laughed: "Don't worry, I won't laugh at you."

"Let me make it clear first, you are not allowed to laugh." Martin expressed his thoughts in an appropriate manner.

Kelly Gray thought it was funny at first, thinking it was just some low-level thug acting like a rogue, but after hearing what happened next, she started to take it seriously.

She stared at Martin: "What do you think? What do you want?"

Martin scratched his head, as if he had difficulty speaking. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Don't worry about you laughing at me. I'm tired of being poor. I want to... want to make money."

He tried to use the surrounding social environment as much as possible: "The night before yesterday, there was a serious shooting in the Clayton community, killing five people. The crime scene was only 100 meters away from where I live. When I got off work that night, I saw with my own eyes that two dealers from the same community were shot into a hornet's nest by shotguns."

Kelly nodded: "I saw the news, you should be more careful."

"I bought a rifle for self-defense, but it's not a solution." Martin pursed his lips and paused for a moment, then sighed: "I'm still young and don't want to die in a stinky ditch. I want to move to a safer community."

Kelly Gray felt a little sympathetic, but after thinking about it, she found that what Martin said was too involved.

Now she is the one who is worried: "Martin, you have given me a difficult problem."

The path chosen by Kelly Gray is actually a social ladder, and her family's limited resources were all invested in her two brothers.

Now there is a vacant vice-chairman position in the ATL Freedom Club, and she has her eyes on this position.

Martin guessed her concerns and said at the right time: "Kelly, you don't have to get involved in these low-level things. I will take people to do it. If there is a problem, it will be the responsibility of the Beast House. If public opinion rises, you can give it a push. If not, you don't have to do anything."

Kelly Gray stood up, walked back and forth a few steps, and made up her mind: "Remember one thing, don't cause any physical harm."

"We are all civilized people in the club, like me and Old Bull." Martin said the truth, and then asked tentatively: "Kelly, you know, we are all poor people, and the boss is stingy and mostly provides moral support."

Kelly went to the desk, got a form, and handed it to Martin: "Fill it out. Public gatherings require an application process. I'll ask Ella to help you with the formalities. The Freedom Club has special event funds, so getting support is not a problem."

Martin was even more motivated: "Brothers don't have to go out to work part-time during the day, so they can continue to protest."

Kelly said, "Make it louder."

Martin has no trouble recruiting people: "If I offer free food, I can find another hundred people."

Kelly nodded: "Okay."

After Martin filled out the form, he followed Ella to several offices, and through the channels of the Free Association, the permission for the assembly was quickly approved.

Kelly was not free at noon, so Martin simply invited Ella to have lunch and called Andrew over.

During the conversation, we talked about the crew coming from Hollywood. Andrew and Benjamin are currently making preparations. A production team of the project will come here in advance soon to arrange matters for the crew after they arrive in Atlanta.

The female producer from LA Freedom Club is coming.

Martin calculated the time.

In the afternoon, Martin called Bruce and Hart and asked them to drive a car each to pick up materials for the rally from the Freedom Club.

The Freedom Society holds gatherings all year round and has all the relevant items available. If Martin requests materials related to the House of the Beast, they can also find partners to make them specifically for him.

Just wait a day.

Martin went back to make the samples first.

(End of this chapter)