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If you have an invention in Kingsport
Eastman Chemical Company lists its headquarters at 200 South Wilcox Drive in Kingsport. In its annual report for 2024, the company reported owning over 800 active U.S. patents and over 4,500 active trademark applications and registrations worldwide.
Search first, then decide what to file
Before you pay for any filing, it is worth knowing which local offices can help with the business side of an idea. The Tennessee Small Business Development Center keeps a Kingsport affiliate office at 400 Clinchfield Street, Suite 100, which offers consulting and training, and its page says meetings are by appointment only. The Tennessee Arts Commission lists The Inventor Center as a makerspace at 118 Shelby Street, with 3D printing, CAD/CAM and laser cutting among its listed disciplines and prototyping equipment helpful to inventors and entrepreneurs. The listing says it is part of Innovation Village, a partnership between key businesses in the area focused on entrepreneurial and small business development. Consulting and prototyping are business help, not legal help, so questions about who owns an idea or whether it can be protected belong with an attorney. How to search existing patents is also a question for an attorney, and this page does not try to teach it.
Patent clocks and public disclosure
The rules about showing or selling an invention before you file are not described here, so ask an attorney about them before you publish or demonstrate your work.
If someone copies your invention: which federal court lists Hawkins and Sullivan counties
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee lists Hawkins County and Sullivan County under its Northeastern (Greeneville) listing, and the court’s pages give 220 West Depot Street, Suite 200, Greeneville, TN 37743 for that listing. Tennessee has its own Uniform Trade Secrets Act for misappropriation under state law.
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Questions inventors ask
How long does a Tennessee trademark registration last, and where is it filed?
The Tennessee Secretary of State says a state registration lasts five years from the date of filing and can be renewed for further five year periods, with renewal opening six months before it expires. Applications are signed and sent with the filing fee to the Division of Business Services at 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, TN 37243.
What if I once signed a noncompete agreement?
In Tennessee, a separate statute covers noncompetes of health care providers. An attorney should confirm the current rule for the kind of work involved.
Finding the right attorney
Bring a short list of dates to a first conversation: when you made the idea, when you shared it with anyone, and when you sold or published it. If you form a company around the invention, Tennessee businesses file new business and annual report paperwork through the online TNCaB account system of the Secretary of State. In 2015 the Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services announced online filing of assumed names, meaning a name other than the legal name under which a business transacts business. For a statewide view, see Tennessee intellectual property attorneys. To start, you can get matched with an intellectual property attorney.
Protecting an idea, brand, or creative work in Kingsport? Talk to an attorney about your deadlines.
Related Intellectual Property Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get business consulting by appointment in Kingsport?
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center keeps a Kingsport affiliate office at 400 Clinchfield Street, Suite 100. It offers consulting and training, and its page says meetings are by appointment only. This is business help, so ownership and protection questions about an invention still go to an attorney.
What does the Tennessee Arts Commission list for the Inventor Center?
The Tennessee Arts Commission lists The Inventor Center as a makerspace at 118 Shelby Street in Kingsport, with 3D printing, CAD/CAM and laser cutting among its listed disciplines and prototyping equipment helpful to inventors and entrepreneurs. The listing says it is part of Innovation Village, a partnership between key businesses in the area focused on entrepreneurial and small business development.
What did Eastman Chemical report about its patents and trademarks?
In its 2024 annual report, Eastman Chemical Company reported owning over 800 active U.S. patents and over 4,500 active trademark applications and registrations worldwide. The company lists its headquarters at 200 South Wilcox Drive in Kingsport. Those figures are as of fiscal year 2024.
Which court listing covers Hawkins County and Sullivan County?
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee lists both counties under its Northeastern (Greeneville) listing. The court’s pages give 220 West Depot Street, Suite 200, Greeneville, TN 37743 for that listing.
Where do I register a company or an assumed name in Tennessee?
Tennessee businesses file new business and annual report paperwork through the online TNCaB account system of the Secretary of State. In 2015 the Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services announced online filing of assumed names, meaning a name other than the legal name under which a business transacts business.
Take the Next Step in Your Kingsport Intellectual Property Matter
The rules on this page are the same statewide, but what they mean for your matter depends on the facts. Use the form to be matched with an attorney who can look at your situation and your dates.
