No, you do not need a working prototype of your invention in order to successfully file for a patent with the USPTO. However, there are several probing questions an inventor needs to answer in order to cross the finish line. These answer(s) will determine if you are far enough along with your idea to even […]
Tough Questions Inventors Need to Ask Themselves Read More »
The complexity of patenting software is often exponentially higher than other tangible inventions in the mechanical or electrical realms. Software patents require careful, precise claims and descriptions, way above what one typically finds in general “widgets”. Inventors should also bear in mind that there are relatively few attorneys in the United States that specialize in
The Perfect Storm in Software Patents Read More »
You have an idea that may change the world or revolutionize an industry. However, until your patent is filed, recorded and locked down with the USPTO, it’s up for grabs by other nefarious entrepreneurs who would love to profit from your idea. Do you really wish to sit on the sidelines and watch your rivals
Three Steps to Profit from your (Patented) Idea Read More »
Correct and precise language (and semantics) are the cornerstone of a successful patent filing. History is littered with the examples of Inventors whose patents failed due to simply one letter being out of place thus changing its meaning and scope, ultimately leading to rejection by the USPTO. The terminology of the claim must match the
Inventors, Watch your Language! Read More »
The intersection of a great idea with the potential to earn money, including licensing fees, may propel you to seek out an investor. However, while many investors play by the rules, there is the inherent risk you may expose your idea to somebody who may bear no scruples in stealing your idea and seeking a
Patent Red Flags: Investor Help Prior to a Patent? Read More »
A patent essentially means the U.s. Government recognizes you as the owner of your idea. Thus nobody can use your invention or a variation of your idea without buying it from you or paying you royalties. Any related uses also mean additional compensation. Consequently you can see the huge amounts of money at stake if
Is a Patent Worth It for New Inventors? Read More »
For several decades filing a patent with the USPTO required a time-consuming and tedious process of attaching multiple claims to the application. A claim can be thought of as a ‘fence’ that circles your invention and describes where rights to your idea end and another entity’s rights begin. This provisional patent created challenging hurdles for
Why 1995 Was a Key Year for Inventors Read More »
Protecting your idea or patent with the USPTO will in many respects dovetail with the age-old debate of “form over function”. In a nutshell, there are two different types of patents, design and utility, which respectively mirror the metaphor above. You may have heard of both (particularly design patents) in the recent titanic patent dispute
Inventor Patent Conundrum: Form over Function? Read More »
Would you believe that protecting your invention in the United States requires a delicate balance of speed, precision, and intelligence? In fact, it’s very much like the egg and spoon races many of us engaged in as kids. Going too fast and you could you drop the egg and get booted out the race; too
Inventor, Don’t Drop Those Eggs! Read More »
In the old days, inventors were required to hand-deliver their working prototypes to the physical USPTO offices, quite unimaginable in the age of the Internet. This also led to many patent attorneys renting expensive office space near the USPTO headquarters. Those days are mostly gone but you will still find big players basing themselves in
You Are (Patently) Closer To Me Than You May Think Read More »
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