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8 Secrets to Patenting Your Invention
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Article 7: Legal Help
Although it’s possible to handle a patent application yourself, it probably isn’t advisable for most inventors. After all, you’re an inventor, not a bureaucrat, and probably not a lawyer either.
Patent lawyers specialize in intellectual property issues and are familiar with the nuances of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). They keep up to date on the latest regulatory and legal changes, know how best to protect your interests and unless you get a fresh-out-of-law-school rookie, they have been down this road before. There’s nothing like experience, particularly in arcane fields like patent law.
But not all attorneys are created equal. Be sure to get not just a patent attorney with a clean record and solid experience, but also one that specializes in the kind of patent you seek.
Patent attorneys can shepherd you through the application maze, running interference with government bureaucrats. The good ones also can be invaluable at the other end of the journey when it comes to preparing and presenting new product ideas for licensing to corporations or introducing your product to the marketplace.
For information on registered patent attorneys and agents in your area, visit the USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline Web site at www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/gcounsel/oed.htm, where you can search by geographic area.
Advice: Despite the assurances of the attorney-client privilege, take nothing for granted. Have your attorney sign a non-disclosure statement just as you would any other person who views the details of your invention. If the lawyer won’t, find another.
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