One of the most significant strategies to secure your intellectual property is to obtain patent protection. Companies must differentiate themselves from their competitors based on their intellectual property portfolios to thrive and stay on top of the game.
Let’s take a look at the world of patents and see how these easy guidelines may help you protect your intellectual property.
1) Prioritize patents to act early
If you don’t know what kinds of technical improvements can be patented, you can miss out on safeguarding important intellectual property. As a result, identifying all potentially patentable technologies early in the development process is one of the most critical phases in obtaining patents. In-depth patent research can come in handy.
Recognizing and preserving a patentable concept at the proper moment protects the time, money, and effort you put into creating and cultivating it. Furthermore, it acknowledges your inventiveness and enhances your chances of getting monetary compensation for your creation.
Furthermore, it is critical to identify all conceivable iterations and adjustments that may be made to the technology in question. Ensure that you have covered all possible adaptations and variants of the technology with the help of a technical specialist and a skilled patent attorney. It will enable you to safeguard and benefit from the full extent of your technology.
2) Understand what can be patented
Patent drafting is essential. An idea must meet three fundamental requirements to be patented: novelty, inventiveness, and industrial application. The innovation must exhibit a novel feature that has yet to be discovered in the literature. It should be difficult or impossible for someone with average abilities in the relevant subject to infer it quickly or clearly.
However, while filing a patent, one must explain it in sufficient detail so that it may be replicated by anybody with ordinary abilities in a related subject.
The clause of subject-matter patentability is another crucial consideration to keep in mind. Several nations have particular pre-defined criteria for patent-eligible subject subjects.
3) Conduct a comprehensive patent search
Before filing a patent, be sure that the innovation has not been predicted by any kind of publication previous to the filing date. Existing patents can be found using a variety of approaches:
- Search reliable databases such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) or the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Using Google’s patent search tool, do a complete patent search using keywords, phrases, inventor names, and so on.
- Patent and trademark resource centres can also provide professional advice.
- You may also do a prior art search in your field’s journal articles.
- Attending national and international conferences to find the newest technology trends and advancements is another method.
4) Select the Type of Patent Protection You Want
A person can file one of two types of patent applications, depending on his needs. There are two types of patent applications: provisional and non-provisional. Let’s look at how they differ from one another.
Provisional patents are simple, quick, and straightforward to file. The inventor is given a one-year window to file a non-provisional patent application. The following are some of the advantages of submitting a provisional patent:
- Preliminary steps are completed faster.
- Filing a provisional patent is less expensive than filing a non-provisional patent.
- Assists in establishing an official USPTO filing date, allowing priority to be granted.
- Allows the patentee a one-year opportunity to properly examine the technology’s economic potential.
On the other hand, non-provisional patents are more official. They must be written in precise accordance with the patent application requirements. The application is extensively examined by a patent examiner, and if granted, the patent is valid for 20 years from the date of filing.
Provisional patents are helpful when there are many versions of an invention and the patentee isn’t sure which one is more valuable commercially. An incorrect provisional application and patent description might be catastrophic to your application.
5) Ensure that your patent application is well-written
The process of drafting a patent application can be time-consuming. As a result, one should thoroughly read all of the USPTO’s rules and regulations. The following are essential elements of any patent application:
- The application’s title
- Background information and a synopsis of the innovation
- Drawings and Abstract
- A detailed explanation of the designs and sketches is provided.
- Claim of a Patent
- Make a cross-reference to other apps that are similar to yours.
Conclusion-
The process of applying for a patent is long and often complicated, but it can be broken down into five steps. A patent application is a lengthy and complicated procedure. Knowing the processes in the patent application process is really beneficial. PatentsKart aims to provide you with assistance in your journey to obtaining a patent. In case of any inquires, please contact us at patentskart.com