As a tech entrepreneur, you need help to remain competitive. Someone can be sued if they copy your invention. Want to prevent this? Enlist the help of a patent lawyer. Tech entrepreneurs come to https://lloydmousilli.com/patent-attorney-houston-307985/ for help with patents to stay ahead of the game and achieve success as an entrepreneur!
What Are Patents and Why Should I Care?
Patents are binding documents that protect inventions from being stolen. They are registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
A patent has two main components:
-The invention, which is usually a new product or process.
-The claims, which are statements that define the scope of what`s being protected by the patent. For example, “a water bottle with an internal filter.” Claims may be written as limitations to protect aspects of a product.
Patents give you something concrete to use when negotiating licensing deals with other companies or defending yourself against legal challenges from others.
How You Can Succeed by Using Patents
Patents can help your business succeed by providing a legal barrier to competition. Others can only legally use your patent with your permission, and for a fee. If someone steals your idea and starts selling it, you could lose your patent, so it`s important that you do all you can to protect that asset.
Depending on the type of invention or design, the costs associated with a patent can be very different. It is important to consult a trusted intellectual property attorney (http://www.nekychinchilla.com) who will be able to provide an estimate tailored specifically to your case.
Examples of how patents have helped other tech companies succeed
Companies that have patents are usually very successful. They can use their patents to block out competitors and sue them for using similar products, making it easy to earn back the money they invested in R&D of those products.
For example, in the early 20th century, patents helped Henry Ford create mass production and the assembly line, allowing not just cars, but commercial products, to be manufactured at greater volume and reduced cost.
Apple`s patented “slide to unlock” is one of the features that made the iPod and iPhone popular.
When Google launched in the late 1990`s, its algorithm for indexing content and displaying it to searchers was the most advanced. PageRank, the process by which websites could gain prominence on Google, was described in a registered patent. While Google has further increased the complexity of their search engine using many other algorithms, PageRank is still a core component to this day.
2 Ways to Apply for a Patent
There are two ways to obtain a patent. One is a provisional patent application, which allows you to establish an early filing date with the USPTO. You can start marketing your invention as Patent Pending, though the patent has not officially been registered — and when it is registered, it is released to the public.
A non-provisional patent application can be filed within 12 months of the filing date of the provisional application. It can ultimately lead to a full patent registration.
Considerations When Filing a Patent
If you are in a place where you can reveal the invention or idea, you should file a patent application.
Another thing worth considering before filing an application for a patent is whether what you have invented has been previously patented. You should do a patent search with a qualified attorney, such as at www.burmanassociates.com, so you don`t make the costly mistake of trying to patent an invention that someone else is already protecting for themselves!
