Patents Articles

Before applying for patent assistance worldwide, it's important to do a little research. You'll need to see if your idea is already out in the market, if your idea fills a current need and create a prototype before applying for patents for ideas.

If you are involved in a patent infringement lawsuit or are considering one yourself, it's important to have an experienced patent infringement lawyer on your side.

By law, any person who makes, uses, offers or sells something that is protected by a current patent, or who imports into the United States anything that is protected by a current patent, is guilty of patent infringement.

If you work for yourself the best way to protect yourself from patent infringement is to hire a patent infringement attorney.

Are you confused about what a patent is and whether you should get one?

This is a primer for beginning inventors that answers your most commonly asked questions.

Questions include what is a patent, what is patent pending, what protection does a patent provide, should you keep your invention secret, and more.

A must-read for inventors at all experience levels.

Patent infringement is a serious offense in the United States. Patent infringement can lead to serious damage awards if the case goes to trial.

Numerous valuable patents exist in the government vaults that when enforced by private companies can return money to the government. But defendant infringers offer stiff resistance, by trying to drag the government back into the case and second-guess the policy decisions of the government.

Some may think that brilliant men like Thomas Edison and Nicolai Tesla are rare these days but I know better. As a matter of fact I have a friend who is a certifiable genius inventor, inventing things like an engine that runs on tap water and a device that increases gas mileage by nearly 40%.

For those who cannot afford to dish out thousands of dollars for a patent lawyer, do it yourself patents can be a great alternative. Do it yourself patents can be done if you are up to the challenge. It is not impossible although the biggest drawback on do it yourself patents is that you are not afforded the luxury of having professional advice.

If you have an idea or invention you may need a US Patent to protect it. Someone else could steal your idea, so it is always a good idea to understand patents and what they can do for you.

Even if you choose to use a patent agent or attorney to help you protect your invention, you will still have some work to do. After all, it's your invention. And they need you to communicate the in's and out's of it as best you can.

So you've done your homework (or are planning on being diligent about it at least). And you've decided to definitely forge ahead and gain a patent on your invention. So now what? Well, first of all, be warned that patenting your invention will cost you several thousand dollars. The fee varies widely; you will ultimately need to receive an estimate from the professional you choose.

You hear them on late night television, newspapers and magazines, even the radio and the internet. The ad goes something like this, "Hey inventor, call our toll free number and we'll help you protect your idea and get rich quick".

Who will be there when things go wrong? Due to the trouble, expense and the risks involved with gaining a patent, you might be lulled into thinking that the government will be there to lend you a helping hand when it comes time to enforce the rights your patented invention.

What can be protected? Determining what qualifies as a patentable invention is a highly difficult and complicated task. Patent laws state that "Anything under the sun that was invented by man qualifies as patentable". Simple enough, but if you notice, there are hundreds of pages full of exceptions and details on the idea of patentability following this phrase. Scores of appeals and patent court cases have arisen due to questions regarding patentability because it still hasn't, and probably never will be entirely pinned down.