The patent application process has changed a lot over the years. A patent application only cost between $4 and $5 in 1790, for instance. The number of patents applications has gone up over the years. That number doubled to 520,000 between 1998 and 2010. As a consequence, the number of patent lawsuits has also gone up. Two decades ago there were about 500 patent lawsuits a year, there are now more than 3,000. If you are considering filing a patent application, seeking out the help from patent law specialists can be a great idea to make sure your patent application is approved.
5 Reasons You Need a Patent Lawyer to Help with Your Application
- Patent law specialists can tell you if your invention can be patented. Not all inventions are eligible for patent protection. The laws, rules and regulations that govern patents has been changed over the years and is something that is not static. They do change all of the time. This has meant that some inventions that may have been eligible for patent protection at one point, are no longer patentable. You may have an idea that can get a patent if you change it a little bit. Going to a patent attorney can help you make that determination.
- The patent application process is long and complex. Patent law specialists can help you with the myriad of paperwork that you will need to have completed to get your patent application into the United States Patent Office. The process is very extensive and there are a lot of factors to consider and details to include. One of the patent attorney services that is very valuable is help with the technical part of of the application process. They can help write up your invention in the way that the people who approve patent applications understand and will accept. This is one of the most important things patent law specialists can do for you.
- You need to include all of the applications of your invention. When you file a patent application, you need to include all of the ways your invention can be useful and all of the needs it fulfills. Patent law specialists may be able to find uses for your invention that you do not. When you invent something, you are probably laser focused on the need you are trying to address and as a consequence may not see other applications and uses. Cat litter is a good example. Cat litter was created and is used primarily for cats to use as a toilet. Cat litter has other uses. It is great to sprinkle on icy driveways and sidewalks, for instance. Finding new uses for invention is one thing hiring a patent law firm can help you with.
- Are there international considerations? Your invention may need to be patented in more than one place. If you patent it only in the United States and then people in another part of the world start making them, you may not have any recourse unless you have filed for patent protection there as well.
- Patent law specialists can protect your invention. You need to give the United States Patent Office a certain amount of information about your invention but you do not want to give away too much. You do not want the patent application to give anyone enough information to start making it themselves before your patent application has been approved and grant you the protections you are seeking. A patent lawyer can make sure your application has the information needed to be approved without giving your invention away.
Americans are very creative people. Many of the inventions that make up the crux of modern living came from the United States. You can see that in the number of patents that have been approved in this country. This number is only increasing. There were 400 patents that were approved per person by the United States Patent Office between 1915 and 1916. That number increased to over 12,000 per person between 2010 and 2011.
If you have an invention, you owe it to yourself to find and hire a good patent lawyer to help with your application.
