A patent is a legal right granted to an inventor by the government to exclude others from copying, importing, or selling an invention without their permission. A patent is demanded by filing at the registered patent office. The person who files the patent is called the inventor. A patent can be granted for any process, device, method, or substance which is inventive and practical.
The patent holder has imparted the right to control how their invention will need to be made, used, or sold in exchange for revealing the aspects of their product to society.
Some Benefits of Patent
- The patent helps protect a determined period which allows you to keep your competitors at nook.
- A patent can become a great source of revenue as you can license it or sell it.
- A patent provides increased credibility and trust to an inventor.
- Patents can help firms and businesses of all sizes to increase their market share.
- The patent allows for selling the product or service at a more significant profit margin.
Why Approaching a Patent Licensing Professional?
You may not have a complete understanding of the processes of a Patent office as an individual investor. Though many websites can guide you for patent filing, other resources are available, such as do-it-yourself patenting kits or cheap 24-hour patent services. Still, they can help you only to a particular extent.
An invention is a precious intellectual property for an inventor in which a lot of hard work, intellect, and investment is involved. So why put it at risk?
Hence utilizing the knowledge from outside can be a good option. A patent professional has the required experience to act accordingly. A licensed patent professional looking after the entire patenting matter is the best choice for preserving your ideas.
Licensed professionals are of two types- Patent Agent and Patent Attorney. The difference between a patent agent and a patent attorney is based on their qualification and role.
- Patent agents are licensed practitioners. They must possess a degree in science or technology, or engineering. A Law degree is not a mandate for them. They must have passed the Patent Agent Examination. They have a license to practice before the patent office of the country. Their primary role is patent prosecution, and they practice before the controller. They are registered to practice under USPTO.
- Patent Attorneys are licensed, lawyers. They must possess a law degree. A degree in science or technology is not mandatory for them. However, they must be enrolled in the state bar council. Their primary role is patent litigation and they practice before the court and give advice in all business-related legal matters.
Benefits of a Patent Licensing Professional over a non-professional-
- An application for a patent must be framed according to the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Throughout the patenting process, certain actions have to be taken before specific deadlines. Patent Professionals understand all the requirements for filing a patent eventually. Though they may not be experts in your specialized area, they ultimately try to understand your invention.
- Patent Professionals are familiar with the powerful tools, techniques, and terminology required to find efficiently appropriate prior art without surrendering effectiveness.
- They frame proper documentation as per the need of the patent offices.
- They are always ready to do the discussions and interactions with you several times as required to ensure that every document and record is shared for a comprehensive understanding.
- They do a prior art search for the invention to find if the design can be patented or not.
- They advise modifications and changes if necessary wherever possible to avoid refusal by an examiner of the patent office.
- They know the actions to be performed before definite deadlines, like responding to office actions within a specified time.
- An office action is an answer from the USPTO regarding the application of a patent. The office action may be a refusal stating reasons why a patent should not be granted. The experience of a patent professional allows them to take appropriate action and argue for your application before the law. As a lawyer knows the most appropriate way to handle cases in court, a licensed patent professional knows the best way to appeal and argue for your application before the USPTO.
- Claims are the most significant part of a patent as they define the scope of an invention. Unfortunately, they are also the most difficult to write. Claims must be designed into a structure while using the appropriate arrangement. Claims that are poorly written can decrease the chance of a patent’s protection. An experienced patent professional has the right expertise in these matters.
Conclusion-
It is a tough decision for inventors to decide whether to patent an invention themselves or hire a patent professional. Therefore, a large number of inventors attempt to self-draft their application for patents. However, a provisional patent application may not issue into a granted patent by itself.
Therefore, there is still a need to file a nonprovisional patent application which is very difficult to prepare. Hence to avoid all this troublesome process hiring a patent professional is the best option.
The importance of a patent professional also provides you a competitive edge and secures your sensitive established information. While you search independently, choosing a professional guarantees more crucial quality information and a more constant application process.
A patent professional, either as a licensed patent attorney or a licensed patent agent, both care for the worth of your time and money. Both attorneys and agents have passed the Patent Bar and can exercise patent law. Avail the benefits of a licensed patent professional to ensure your patent application is rightly and adequately drafted to your appropriate and desired needs.
Using the services of a patent licensing professional is highly beneficial to the achievement of patent protection. Hence, it is always best to approach a licensed patent professional who saves your time and investment; and provides the rarer scope of your patent application to be rejected.