Sean Goodwin

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.

• 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.

Illinois

Supreme Court of Illinois

Since 2008

Of Counsel

Lexern Law Group

2022 - 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

2010 - 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.

Washington University School of Law

LL.M. (2012) | Intellectual Property and Technology Law

2011 - 2012

Activities: Student Council of LL.M. Class

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

J.D. (2008) | Certificate in Intellectual Property Law

2005 - 2008

Honors: Dean's List

Activities: Brehon Law Society

Loyola University Chicago

B.S. (2000) | Chemistry, Emphasizing Biochemistry

1995 - 1999

Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)

Member

2024 - 2025

Trademark Law Basics and Recent Supreme Court Updates, Union League Club of Chicago

April 10, 2024

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.

Patent Attorney

United States Patent and Trademark Office

2010

Q. How can I self-publish a book previously serialized in a magazine?

April 2, 2025

A: I would double-check with the magazine to see if there is a contract on file even if you remember a verbal/handshake agreement. If there is a written agreement, please reach out to an experienced intellectual property attorney to review it in detail. There is something called a "work-for-hire" contract which transfers all intellectual property rights of the author to the other party, and you need to make sure this is not the case.

Based on the fact pattern, and assuming you received the copyright registration for your book prior to the magazine publication, you possess all of the rights under copyright law. The handshake agreement will be viewed as a limited license agreement to the magazine allowing publication only for those installments (unless there is an overriding written agreement). Just to be safe, you should also research the magazine copyright registrations to ensure that it disclaimed your stories as not its own.

If there is no written agreement with the magazine, then you should be free to self-publish. ... Read More

Q. I want to know if Patent 11,192,678 products are on the market and where to buy them.

March 10, 2025

A: Your best bet is to contact the current owner to see if it is commercializing the patent and where.

The current owner of this patent is AB Merculor, located at Hillersvagen 3, Hagersten 129 35 in Sweden.

If you have trouble contacting them, their U.S. law firm is Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch LLP in Falls Church, Virginia.

Q. How do I check to see if there are any infringements on my deceased father's patent?

February 2, 2025

A: First, check to see if the patent has expired.

Second, search to see if anyone has registered an assignment at the USPTO and ensure your father did not sell it.

Third, start using the internet to see if anyone is selling a product or process that is covered by every element of the patent claims. If you need help with this step, contact a licensed patent attorney.