So, you’ve got yourself an invention that you want to trademark and patent? Filing a patent is a requirement if you want to keep your invention safe and protected. And that should be one of the most important things to you, right? You wouldn’t want someone coming by and stealing the idea of your invention and creating the product themselves.
That’s why we’ve created this handy article for you to understand the easy steps you need to take in order to file a patent. Read on to learn more and keep your invention safe from any criminals out there!
- Search the US Patent & Trademark Office.
First of all, before you even start on your invention or even do any more brainstorming, check the US Patent & Trademark Office database. By doing this, you can see exactly what patents have already been filed and if your invention is already patented and out there in the world. This is a requirement if you don’t want to waste your time and money in seeking a patent that’s already been given out.
- Find A Great Patent Attorney.
The process of filing a patent can get pretty complicated and messy without the help of a US patent attorney on your side. Even though you can do this application by yourself, it’s much better to have the ready expertise of someone who knows all of the details and what to do when you get confused. Do a quick Google search to start preparing a list of potential candidates in your local community.
- Figure Out Which Type of Patent You’re Going to Need.
Of course, you’re going to have to decide what kind of patent you need for your invention. There are plenty of patent categories, so you should read up on those and decide which application you need to fill.
- Start the Provisional Patent Application and File It.
Next up, you need to fill a provisional patent application. Basically, when it comes to the US patent system, whoever files the patent first will get the patent – no matter who came up with the invention first. By filing a provisional patent application, you’re basically saying “dibs” to the invention and can argue later in court (if necessary) that you filed first.
- Become A Registered Efiler.
The US Trademark and Patent Office allows you to become a registered eFiler so you can file your patents online through their website. This is a fantastic way to get the process done quicker and easier, much more so than by mail or fax.
- Get All the Information You Need About the Final Application.
There are tons of things that you need to put together about your invention before you finish and submit the final patent application. This is where your qualified patent attorney will come into play! They’re going to know all of the details for what to include in your final application and can lead you along the way. So be sure you find the perfect candidate for your patent lawyer and get that application started ASAP!
- Complete That Application and Send It In.
If you didn’t know, it takes about one to three years for a patent application to go through the formal process of becoming official. Make sure you get your application in on-time without any unnecessary mistakes or you could be forced to wait even longer for your patent to be filed.
When it comes to filing your patent for your new invention, the process can be long and arduous. However, when you have a high-quality patent lawyer on your side, the process is going to be a bit smoother than without him or her.