Patents are a form of intellectual property protection, granting inventors the exclusive rights to make, use, sell or import a new invention for a specified period of time. An inventor must file a patent application with the US Patent Office within a year after an invention was made public. Inventors who do not apply for patents lose the right to stop others from making money off their inventions.
Lloyd & Mousilli has specialized experience in IP law, such as patent law. Here is a brief overview (courtesy Lloyd & Mousilli) to help you get started with your patent application.
When you ask them “Explain patents to me like I’m 5!” This is more or less a simplified summary. Consider these key points when filing.
Patent attorneys are experts who have expertise in patents and other intellectual properties. They know how to protect your business ideas. They work hard to make sure your ideas become reality.
Design Patent Application Requirements:
A preamble explaining how the invention works, a cross reference to related patents (“prior art”), if any, a statement about federally sponsored R&D, a description of every figure, a feature list, a single claim, diagrams (drawings or photos), an executed oath or declaration, and the appropriate fees (patent filing, patent search, patent examination).
Patents are granted by governments in order to encourage innovation and reward inventors. Inventing new things gives people a chance to earn money and create jobs. A patent is a legal document that protects your invention for 20 years (under United States patent law; different countries may vary in protection period). This means that other companies can’t copy your idea without paying you.
The first step in the patenting process is drafting a patent application. This involves writing out the claims and description of what you want your invention to do. Then, file this application with the U.S. Patent Office. After your application is filed, you must respond to any office actions issued by the examiner during the application process. These can include rejections or requests for additional information.
There are some cases when it happens faster than expected. But generally, it takes one year before an application is approved. USPTO applications come in the form of patents (which cover inventions) and trademarks (which protect brand names). Trademarks are used by companies as a means to distinguish themselves from others who may produce similar products. Companies also use patents to protect their innovations, which they could otherwise charge royalties on. Patents are granted on the basis of novelty, usefulness, and non-obviousness. Novelty refers to the fact that the invention hasn’t been done before. Useful means that it works well enough to serve the purpose intended. Non-obviousness indicates that the inventor was sufficiently clever to figure out a solution to a problem without being told directly by someone else.
Patents are assigned a patent ID which is used as a reference for the whole patent process. Their ID gets changed every time they get reissued or renewed. You must respond to Office actions in order to get your patent approved.
Lloyd & Mousilli are experts who focus on Intellectual Property Law. Their goal is to educate clients about their rights, and then to protect those rights. Ideally, you start with baby steps, and then they design the ideal structure of patents to protect your product’s intellectual property. Intellectual Property Lawyers also help companies create new products and services, and they help people create businesses.