Seeking a reliable San Bernardino patent attorney or trademark lawyer? This section dives into more detail about how you can apply for a patent.It has nothing to do with the product's usefulness, but you can only get a design patent for a useful product or process. Design patents last for 14 years. To apply for a patent, you must file an application and pay required fees. If you're domiciled in the United States, you're only required to have an attorney if you are a foreign-domiciled applicant. 12 votes, 41 comments. Hey everyone, I'm trying to get a patent and trademark for an app that I will be developing. Once you have a patent, it gives the owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the idea or product for a fixed period. The Secretary of State's office maintains registration and all updates of California state trademarks and service marks.