A US patent is required to protect your rights if you invented an exclusive product or have a new idea. A patent grants property rights to an inventor and is issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The purpose of filing a patent is to prevent others from reproducing and selling your product for profit.
If you want to know how to get a patent, there are many online sites that describe the process in great detail, however, there are some key requirements. The US Patent and Trademark Office states that qualifying the item you are inventing must be completely unique. In other words, it can not be something that already exists in the field of invention or that is predicted for the near future.
When researching information on how to patent an idea, remember that the invention also needs to be useful in some way. The invention must be entirely new too – something that has never been seen before.
If you are wondering how to patent an idea, it is the same process as a real invention as you can see from this guide for inventors. There are several types of patents, so you will have to find out which one fits best with the product you invented. Utility patents and design patents are the two main types. A utility patent is generally the preferred patent because, in most cases, it offers the best protection. Design patents cover only the actual appearance of an invention, which is not enough protection for most people.
In your search for information on how to patent an idea, you will learn that utility patents protect a wide variety of items, including a product, appliance, process, system, machinery, and more. When figuring out how to get one, it’s best to spend your time researching how to protect an idea according to the requirements of that type of patent.
If you are having trouble scouring the endless necessary documentation, hiring a patent attorney to assist you in the process may be a good idea. This type of lawyer has the knowledge and experience to put together a valid application on your behalf. Under the patent law, only the original inventor can file an application and receive a patent, but you can make use of a lawyer to prepare the application. The patent law also prohibits a person from filing an application based on an item that someone invented.
If you want more information about patents before registering, it is wise to do a lot of research and read reliable sources. You can search online for this information or visit your local library to learn more about everything that is involved in the process.
People with a lot of experience writing patents usually go through the process on their own, however, when you are just starting out as an inventor hiring a lawyer to write the claims and edit the application is highly recommended.
