Jenei LLC

Jenei LLC A Fresh Approach to Business & IP Law. Jenei LLC, takes the mystery out of patent and intellectual property law.

Issued and official: the USPTO has registered THE MENTAL GAME design mark, U.S. Reg. No. 7,750,765, on the Principal Reg...
05/26/2026

Issued and official: the USPTO has registered THE MENTAL GAME design mark, U.S. Reg. No. 7,750,765, on the Principal Register.

By The Mental Game, LLC (Ohio), this registration covers Class 9 (downloadable podcasts and downloadable video podcasts in the field of mental health) and Class 41 (online and in-person courses, seminars, workshops, and speaking engagements in the field of mental health and positive personal habits, plus non-downloadable podcasts and video podcasts).

Takeaway: this is how you turn a brand into a protectable asset, match the mark to real use, and cover the channels where your audience finds you.

Want a focused trademark conversation to map options, tradeoffs, and costs before you file?

05/21/2026

Quick trademark reality check, a logo and a name are often two separate filings.

Takeaway: filing the name protects the words. Filing the logo protects the design. Many startups need both, but the sequence depends on budget and how you actually use the brand.

Common mistake: filing only the logo, then later wishing you protected the name itself.

Next step today: decide what customers will say, the name, and what they will recognize, the logo. Want a simple filing plan?

05/19/2026

A provisional patent application is only helpful if it supports what you will claim later.

Lesson: “good enough” means clear technical detail, drawings, and variations, not a short summary.

Common mistake: filing a thin document to hit a deadline, then discovering you cannot rely on it for broader coverage.

Next step today: list five variations, alternative materials, steps, ranges, or layouts. Want a quick review before you file?

Fresh out of the USPTO: U.S. Patent No. 12,285,020 for “BRAIDED SOFT PRETZEL APPARATUS AND METHOD.” This patent covers ...
05/12/2026

Fresh out of the USPTO: U.S. Patent No. 12,285,020 for “BRAIDED SOFT PRETZEL APPARATUS AND METHOD.”

This patent covers an apparatus and method that forms dough into a braid pattern, then cuts it into sticks or bites, washes it in a caustic solution, and bakes it. The braided pattern is the clever part. It helps the pretzel expand and aerate during baking without getting “locked in” by the pretzel skin, which supports that soft interior people want.

Big congratulations to the inventor, Gary Gottenbusch (Cincinnati, Ohio), on this milestone.

Takeaway for founders building physical products: patents reward clear process steps and the “why it works” details, not just the end result.

Want to talk through whether your product is better protected by a patent, a trade secret strategy, or both?

05/07/2026

Find a similar name after you started using yours? Do not panic.

Takeaway: you can often reduce risk fast with a few smart steps, but the right move depends on what is similar, how close the goods are, and how far you have already launched.

Common mistake: sending a heated message or changing everything overnight without a plan.

Next step today: capture screenshots of your use, write down your first use date, and list exactly what you sell. Want a quick trademark triage call?

05/05/2026

Here’s a quick way to tell if you are ready to talk patents.

Write two sentences.

1. The problem your product solves.
2. The specific way you solve it.

If you cannot write those clearly, your filing will likely be thin, which can lead to weaker coverage and more back and forth later.

Takeaway: clarity first, then strategy.

Common mistake: starting with features and skipping the problem and the technical advantage.

Next step today: write your two sentences, then list three alternatives a competitor might use. Want a focused conversation to map options, tradeoffs, and costs?

Who owns the IP? Do not assume.A startup hires a contractor to build firmware. The product works, but the contract never...
04/20/2026

Who owns the IP? Do not assume.

A startup hires a contractor to build firmware. The product works, but the contract never assigns inventions. That can create problems during fundraising or acquisition diligence.

Takeaway: lock down ownership early with clean assignments.

Common mistake: using a generic contractor agreement that does not include invention assignment and confidentiality that fits IP work.

Next step today: list everyone who touched the product, employees, contractors, advisors, and confirm you have signed IP assignment language for each. Want a quick cleanup checklist?

04/15/2026

Investors will ask about IP faster than you think.

A hardware startup lines up a seed pitch. The deck looks great, but the team cannot explain what is filed, what is pending, and what is still a trade secret.

Takeaway: your IP story should fit in 30 seconds.

Common mistake: saying “We filed a patent” without knowing what it covers.

Next step today: write a one-page IP snapshot, what is filed, what is planned, and what is proprietary. Want a quick IP readiness check before you pitch?

Before a pitch, get your invention story and filing plan tight. Comment “PATENT” and I’ll post the checklist.
04/13/2026

Before a pitch, get your invention story and filing plan tight. Comment “PATENT” and I’ll post the checklist.

Your prototype is not the invention. The details are.A hardware founder has a working build, but the “why it works” is s...
04/08/2026

Your prototype is not the invention. The details are.

A hardware founder has a working build, but the “why it works” is still in their head. Patents reward clear explanations, alternatives, and what parts matter most.

Takeaway: document what is essential and what can change.

Common mistake: focusing only on the exact prototype and ignoring variants a competitor could copy.

Next step today: write a one page “what must stay, what can change” list, then sketch three alternative versions. Want help turning that into a patent-ready disclosure?

04/06/2026

Not every great idea belongs in a patent.

A manufacturing startup can have a process improvement that saves real money. Patenting might reveal too much. Keeping it secret might limit partnerships. The right answer depends on your business plans.

Takeaway: patents and trade secrets solve different problems.

Common mistake: defaulting to “patent everything” or “keep everything secret.”

Next step today: list your top three differentiators and mark each as “public soon” or “can stay confidential.” Want help weighing patent vs trade secret?

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