enterprise patent: protect your invention

How Do I GET a PATENT?

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Be Brilliantly Visionary: You have a great idea—at least you think so when You do not publicly disclose your concept.)

 

2. Research: Has it been done before? I highly recommend you search the Internet, especially through Google patents.

 

3. Get It Down: Write down key concepts and alternatives and sketch drawings.—You can use a representative patent that you found during your searches as guidance for the level of detail.

 

4. Consult an Expert: Find an experienced registered patent professional—such as you will find at Enterprise Patent. (Avoid most “invention help” companies!)

 

5. Pay for a Patentability Search: An optional step to confirm patent viability.

 

6. File: Start with a U.S. provisional patent application or U.S. nonprovisional patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 

 

7. File Again: Within one year of the filing date of the U.S. provisional patent application, file the U.S. nonprovisional patent application and/or international patent application(s).  ($5000–$20,000)

 

8. Wait Patiently: Probably for a year or two. Practice (make, use, or sell) or license the invention? Use the phrase “patent application pending.” 

 

9. Receive an Office Action from the USPTO: Revealing prior art and usually including the patent examiner’s reasoning for not allowing the claimed invention.

 

10. Respond to the Office Action (Usually): Amending the scope of the patent claim(s) and/or arguing why the prior art is not relevant. The patent examiner may issue subsequent office actions to which you must reply or forgo patent protection.

 

11. Work on Your Foreign Patents: An optional step that includes substantial foreign application-related filing fees and translation costs.

 

12. Receive a Notice of Allowance: This step includes paying pay grant fees.

 

13. Receive Granted Patent: Maintain it by paying fees to keep the patent in force.

 

REMEMBER, not every idea is patent-worthy but, if it is, the steps are always the same.

Not sure you need a patent? CLICK here.