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Which federal court lists Bradley County
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee lists Bradley County under Southern (Chattanooga). The court’s pages list 900 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402 for Bradley County (28 U.S.C. 123). That is what the county list says, and it is the full extent of what this page can tell you about the courthouse.
A county listing does not decide where a particular dispute can be filed. An attorney should confirm the court before anything is filed. A patent claim is filed in federal court only under 28 U.S.C. 1338(a).
Employers and research that shape local disputes
Lee University, a private university in Cleveland, offers a bachelor of science in engineering, and its engineering program page describes an Engineering Design and Prototyping lab with 3D printers and laser cutters. The page also lists a machine shop with CNC mills and lathes. If an idea took shape in a school lab or shop, ask an attorney who owns it before you show it to anyone outside your team.
The PIE Innovation Center at 2337 Parker St NE is a regional education facility on the Bradley County Schools site, in the former American Uniform plant. Its PIE Center page lists career and technical education focus areas that include welding, machining and mechatronics, along with an Advanced Manufacturing program menu. The same page names TCAT Athens, Cleveland State Community College and Chattanooga State as educational partners.
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center has a Cleveland office at 3535 Adkisson Drive, hosted by Cleveland State Community College. The Cleveland center page says it gives startups and existing businesses one on one help with business plans, branding and growth planning across Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk Counties. Planning a business is one task, and deciding who owns a brand or an invention is another, so bring the ownership questions to an attorney.
Deadlines that run no matter where you live
Damages for patent infringement can be recovered for no more than the six years before the suit is filed (35 U.S.C. 286). A civil copyright claim must be brought within three years after it accrued (17 U.S.C. 507(b)).
A United States work generally must be registered, or refused registration by the Copyright Office, before an infringement suit can be filed (17 U.S.C. 411(a)). Trademarks can be registered federally under 15 U.S.C. 1051. The owner of a misappropriated trade secret that relates to a product or service used in, or intended for use in, interstate or foreign commerce can sue in federal court under 18 U.S.C. 1836(b).
Your next step
Before a first conversation, write down when the work was created, who has seen it, and any signed paper that touches it. A short timeline like that helps an attorney see which of the rules above could apply. When you are ready, you can get matched with an intellectual property attorney.
Protecting your work in Cleveland? Get matched with an attorney now.
Facing an infringement dispute in Cleveland? Find out where your matter stands.
Related Intellectual Property Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Which courthouse address does the federal court list for Bradley County?
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee lists Bradley County under Southern (Chattanooga), and its pages give 900 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402 for the county (28 U.S.C. 123). A county listing does not say where a particular dispute can be filed, so an attorney should confirm the court first.
Where can a Cleveland startup get help with a business plan?
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center has an office in Cleveland at 3535 Adkisson Drive, hosted by Cleveland State Community College. It offers startups and existing businesses one on one help with business plans, branding and growth planning, and its area covers Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk Counties. Questions about owning a brand or an invention belong with an attorney.
What does the Lee University engineering program list for hands on work?
Lee University, a private university in Cleveland, offers a bachelor of science in engineering. Its page describes an Engineering Design and Prototyping lab with 3D printers and laser cutters, plus a machine shop with CNC mills and lathes.
What is the PIE Innovation Center in Cleveland?
The PIE Innovation Center at 2337 Parker St NE is a regional education facility on the Bradley County Schools site, in the former American Uniform plant. Its page lists welding, machining and mechatronics among its career and technical education focus areas, shows an Advanced Manufacturing program menu, and names TCAT Athens, Cleveland State Community College and Chattanooga State as educational partners.
Is there a time limit for a patent or copyright claim?
For patents, damages can be recovered for no more than the six years before the suit is filed (35 U.S.C. 286). A civil copyright claim must be brought within three years after it accrued (17 U.S.C. 507(b)). An attorney can tell you when your own clock started.
Connect With a Cleveland Intellectual Property Attorney
Questions about a patent, a trademark filing, a copyright registration, or a trade secret are exactly what an initial conversation is for. Use the form to get matched with an attorney who can answer them for your case.
