Inventor Resources
Learn MoreInvention Patent Tips
Tips on how to patent an invention to help make the process easier•Never assume your idea is innovative or even a new concept. You are your own best advocate. Take some time to do a quick prior art search of your own using simple free internet resources and a Google Patent Search. Oftentimes you will find your idea for an invention is well documented, patented and covered in a number of conceptual and real-world forms.
•Take a ‘no idea is a bad idea, but NOT every idea is patentable’ approach to all of your ideas and invention concepts.
•If an idea for an invention is a product that can be readily purchased or has a number of similar product counter-parts that are easily identified, it likely won’t be eligible for a patent.
•Never submit in writing or tell your unpatented idea to anyone without an NDA in place.
•Get familiar with the new “first to file” patent rules in the U.S. which require an inventor or company to file a patent before engaging in any public use, sale, offer for sale or disclosure outside of a confidential relationship.
•Before submitting any concept or product idea you should have as much information and documentation around your invention concept as possible.
•If there are similar product concepts or inventions that already exist, take time to document and differentiate how your invention is novel and unique from similar inventions.
•Cite every instance that makes your idea stands out as novel, unique and innovative, as these are the first questions our team at the IPN or any patent attorney will ask.
•Take the time to get comfortable with every aspect of your idea for an invention and be prepared for tough questions covering every detail of your idea.
Facts
Cold hard facts of patent ownership and the risks you assume as an inventor•Not every idea for a patent is granted. We do our best to anticipate the prior art landscape, but the IPN makes no assurance that a patent we file will result in an issued patent. *The IPN makes no assurances or guarantees related to the issuance, marketability or license potential for any filed patent application or from work performed at the IPN.
•Patents are expensive to create and produce and have additional annual maintenance costs just to keep the patent active at the USPTO level. *Unless previously agreed, The IPN and its affiliates handle no maintenance or services fees related to the fees generated from the ownership and assignment of any patent.
•Patents are most commonly used to protect a specific aspect of a business method, product design or an apparatus or process within an invention and not every patent issued results in a financial gain for the inventor. *The IPN makes no assurances or guarantees as to any financial compensation or reward that an inventor will receive from any work performed at the IPN.
•Not every idea that receives a design patent is purchased, licensed or even manufactured. *Unless a previous manufacturing agreement is in place with The IPN and the customer, The IPN assumes no responsibility for the creation or marketing of a product or design patent created at the IPN.
•An issued patent's value is often dependent on the scope of the coverage of the claim, which is generally a matter of opinion until the patents and concepts are actually marketed, litigated or licensed. *The IPN assumes no responsibility for the target identification, licensing or litigation of any concept or patent created at the IPN.
•Even if the USPTO issues you a patent and you decide to litigate or improperly attempt to license the patented concept you can lose the entire patent or some of the claims through an inter party dispute with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) or at a lower court level. *The IPN assumes no responsibility for the defense, prosecution, litigation or any PTAB rulings related to any concept or patent created at the IPN.
•A patent is not a license to print money and only protects the rights to an invention. Oftentimes a patented invention is infringed and litigation is required to receive licensing revenues from infringement of the patented invention. *The IPN assumes no responsibility for the defense, prosecution, litigation or any PTAB rulings related to any concept or patent created at the IPN
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