I recently discovered a regional center that claims that it has a patent for doing bond projects as a regional center. This does not seem like something you could patent. Its patent application is for computer software. Is this possible? What types of patent, intellectual property and trademark protections are available to regional centers?
It depends on that particular regional center''s business plan or model. A regional center, as an entity itself, cannot be patented, but it may apply for a patent or some form of intellectual property protection for an original product or process.
He might mean business method. You can check the USPTO database to see if this regional center has filed a patent application or not.
There are many things can be patented that many people do not expect. Method patents do exist, covering all sorts of processes. Software patents are also common. Even biological matter can be patented (check out what large agricultural companies do regarding patenting things like soybean seeds and it will blow your mind). As regional centers are actual business entities (limited liability companies, corporations, etc.), they can obtain intellectual property protections as any other business can.
First retain the services of an experienced EB-5 attorney as well as a patent attorney. There are only certain items that can receive patents. A patent for doing bond projects seems unlikely.
