Patents

If you have a new idea for something, you may want to begin with a provisional patent application. This is an invention disclosure document that allows you to secure a priority date for a provisional application. With a provisional application, you do not need to meet all of the formal filing requirements of a non-provisional application. The formal requirements include formal drawings and specifications, among many other intricate details. Once you file a provisional patent, you are permitted to state that your invention has a patent pending. This provisional patent application lasts for 12 months from the date of filing. You should know what to do next to prevent losing the benefits of a provisional patent. What Is the Point of a Provisional Patent? Filing a provisional United States patent serves as a placeholder, allowing you to get an early filing date as you work on further development of your invention. Once your provisional application is filed, you can start securing the funding you need for a non-provisional application before the 12-month period ends. Another reason for filing a provisional application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is that it can expedite the process. However, your provisional patent does not give you any legal rights regarding your invention. It only allows you to advertise your patent pending invention and secure an early filing date. You will eventually need to file a non-provisional patent application for your creation. Benefits of Provisional Patent Applications Filing a provisional application is ideal if you are trying to get the funding you need for your invention or you need more time to fine-tune your invention. One benefit of the provisional application is that it is simple. Another benefit [...]

Every inventor, entrepreneur, and company needs protection to prevent their unique ideas and intellectual property being copied by the competition. Applying for a patent in the United States is a smart move, and it starts by applying for a patent with the United States Trademark and Patent Office. This valuable protection keeps others from copying your invention for 20 years. You can start with a provisional patent, which is a placeholder patent, so you do not need to worry that someone will use your idea. A provisional patent will extent the life of the patent by 1 year. What Happens If You Don't Have a Patent? Patent attorneys can tell you what can happen if you don’t have a patent. Without one, your competitors could take advantage of and use your invention without your permission. This would result in reduced market share, among other things. You would be limited in licensing, selling, or transferring your innovation without a patented invention. Someone else could potentially also patent your idea first. This is why filing a provisional patent application with the patent and trademark office is helpful, allowing you to block any copycats while you finalize funding or the final touches on your invention. What Are the Three Types of Patents? The United States patent office allows you to file three different types of patents – utility patents, design patents, and plant patents. You may find it helpful to discuss patents with a patent lawyer to help you figure out which one will best protect your invention. Utility Patents Utility patents apply to any invention, new discovery, or an improvement of any useful process, machine, product, or item already in existence. A utility patent would be ideal [...]

Getting a patent is how you protect your intellectual property. With a patent, you can prevent others from copying your idea and profiting from your creation. Patent protection ensures you have exclusive control over your invention. You are not limited to filing a patent application on an idea when a prototype or tangible item is already brought to life. Applying for a patent is done through the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which can stop someone else from making, using, selling, or importing your idea. Before taking the steps to become a patent holder, you should understand the types of patents and how they can protect your invention. What Are the Three Types of Patents? The United States Patent and Trademark Office has three different patents to protect your creation. Before you begin the patent application process, you need to know which of these patents is the right match for your idea. A patent lawyer can help you understand everything you need for these processes. Utility Patents Also called patents for invention, utility patents are the most common United States patents. A utility patent is for new and useful machines, processes or compositions of matter, such as tools, computer software, machines, and medical equipment. To obtain a patent for this, you must show you have a new and useful device or process that makes it different from any other existing patent or known idea. You will generally have broader protection with a utility type of patent versus a design patent, but you will need to pay maintenance fees once the patent issues. And although a utility patents may generally offer broader protection it does not necessarily mean it offers stronger protection. Design Patents A [...]