A Quick Guide to Patents
In order to protect the rights of an invention or improvement, the inventor should apply for a patent.
Patents allow for certain rights to be bestowed upon the inventor or owner of invention, such as the exclusion of others from making, using, or selling the same or similar invention or improvement in the United States. Patents are to be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The patent application process is best initiated by visiting the USPTO website in order to obtain the necessary patent application forms and the necessary instructions to formally register a patent. Before applying for a patent, one should search to make sure that the invention that is to be registered has not already been patented.
Searching the USPTO database can be done online and is free of charge. If no patent exists, one must then provide for exact details regarding the invention, explicitly stating how it functions and how it is made or produced. In certain cases, drawings will also be required in the patent application. One must also categorize patents as either plant, design, or utility patents.
Upon filling out the required application, one can file by electronic means through the USPTO e-filing system. There will usually be fees required for the filling of applications for patents.
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