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5 Tips on Patents
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If your company has an invention you think is patentable, take immediate action. Keep accurate records of your research and development and keep your records in a secure location. An idea, without knowledge of how to make it work, isn't patentable. You must be able to present an illustrated description of a specific useful product, which achieves the desired objective, in sufficient detail to enable others to make and use it. You may lose your right to patent it if you offer it for sale or disclose it publicly without patent protection.
- Make sure your product or invention isn't infringing on someone else's patent. Your library can help you conduct a patents search. Not every invention is patentable and the burden of proof is on you. Applicable requirements and filing procedures are available at The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website at www.uspto.gov
- Be prepared to establish the novelty of your idea. A patent takes 1½ years or more to obtain, expires within 20 years and isn't renewable. Total costs are typically $8,000 or more, about 50-50 government and attorney fees. Let's re-emphasize, Keep good records of product development, including dates, drawings, etc. and keep an updated list of witnesses who can offer corroborative testimony as needed.
- Hire a patent attorney or agent. Get references. Beware of invention promotion scams.You can find warnings on such scams at the Federal Trade Commission's site at www.ftc.gov.
- Patents are issued not only to physical devices, but also to other forms of intellectual property. According to Success magazine, Amazon.com owns the patent on the one-click shopping-cart strategy and successfully defended it in court against Barnes & Noble. Patents are just one form of intellectual property protection. Visit The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website at www.uspto.gov and The U.S. Copyright Office at: www.copyright.gov for assistance in filling the right protection for your intellectual property.
U.S. patents have no effect elsewhere, but a U.S. patent can be used to block importation of infringing products from abroad. Foreign patents are harder and more costly to obtain.
Seattle Design is an experienced provider of technical drawing submissions for Trademarks and Patents.
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