Easy Patent Guide

After making an invention that is meant to fill a need or solve a problem, an inventor need to follow several steps for getting a patent on a product or technology. There are several reasons in going through the different steps for getting a patent on an invention. It could be because you might want to make some money, if you could get the exclusive right to produce or to license your invention. It could be for prestige. Whatever it is, going through the steps for getting a patent is not easy and should be done properly.

The Patent and Trademark Office examiner, after the patent application has been filed with the Patent and Trademark Office, carefully reviews the application in order to determine the invention’s patentability. There is only one Patent and Trademark Office in the U.S. It is located in Arlington, Virginia, close to Washington, DC.

Patent valuation refers to determining the value of patents. Some patents are very valuable, but a number are not. Because patents often are quite complex, patent valuation is usually a highly detailed and expensive process that requires the input of lawyers and advisers with specific technical knowledge and experience. The makeup of patent valuation teams will vary by engagement, but it is axiomatic that before an appraiser can value something, he or she has to understand what it is. Here are some suggestions to help those involve in patent valuation work to do just that:

The Patent Trademark Office carefully reviews the application in order to determine the invention’s patentability. Upon submission of a patent application to the Patent Trademark Office an Examiner reviews the application and prepares an opinion as to whether the application complies with the Patent Trademark Office applicable rules and regulations, and whether the invention is indeed “patentable.”

Patent research is the best way to gather information about patent. Patent research is particularly necessary in order to verify the patentability of the invention. In conducting patent research on patentability of an invention, the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office cautions that a complete patentability search must consider all prior art, including earlier patents, foreign patents and non-patent literature. Both of the PTO’s patent databases begin with patents granted since 1976, and the Delphion and Academic Universe sites since 1971.

Patent protection provides security to the patent applicant against patent infringement. Patent infringement would occur if someone made, used or sold your patented door lock without your permission in a country that has granted you a patent, during the term of the patent.

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is a multilateral treaty. This became effective in 1978 and it is established to eliminate some of the duplication involved when obtaining patent protection for the same invention in several countries. Patent Cooperation Treaty has more than 40 nations as signatories. The Patent Cooperation Treaty makes it possible to file and prosecute a single international application, which has the same effect as filing a separate application in each Patent Cooperation Treaty nation that the inventor designates at the time of filing the application. The Patent Cooperation Treaty neither creates an international patent nor changes the substantive requirements of patentability in any individual Patent Cooperation Treaty nation (including the US).