Filing my first patent

[Synpax]

This isn't for some do-hicky for walking your dog or whatever, it's for a special survey method.

I have read about it here:
http://inventors.about.com/od/selfpatenting/a/Filing_Utility.htm

I really don't want to blow a whole lot of cash on a lawyer and I want this done right.

Any insight?

 

[nycgirl]

Check out the U.S. PTO website. Become familiar with the application and process.

I filed a trademark application on my own. Of course, trademarks are lot easier to do without an attorney than patents.

 

[Synpax]

Thanks.

I'd add I already did a search myself and there is nothing like this in the database.

Just reading about filing electronically. Apparently it only costs $75 according to the US PTO site.

 

[nycgirl]

Yes, the small entity fee (no such thing for trademarks, lol). Hopefully the patent application will go through without receiving an Official Action from the Patent Office. If it doesn't, you may need an attorney to prepare the respone.

 

[Vita]

that filing fee would be for a provisional application. this covers your invention for one year from the date of filing, at that point you MUST file a regular utility application, but you get the benefit of the earlier filing date for any protection.

this is good if you try and market your invention to other companies for sale.

you MUST NOT publically disclose or offer for sale your invention before you file, not without a non-disclosure agreement. if your invention would be worth of foreign protection, you've got 1 year from filing, unless you've already publically disclosed the info, then from what i recall, you're screwed.

i am a paralegal for an Intellectual Property Law firm, and usually we have summer associates or just low level associates do work for smaller clients to save costs. either way, you're looking at spending over US $1,000 to get a patent, more likely 2-3gs for it. if it's in any way technical, you're going to be hard pressed to get the protection you want out of your invention without an attorney...

keep doing your research, and keep it to yourself. if you want any help or anything, send me a PM and i'll see what i can do.

 

[nycgirl]

that filing fee would be for a provisional application. this covers your invention for one year from the date of filing, at that point you MUST file a regular utility application, but you get the benefit of the earlier filing date for any protection.

this is good if you try and market your invention to other companies for sale.

you MUST NOT publically disclose or offer for sale your invention before you file, not without a non-disclosure agreement. if your invention would be worth of foreign protection, you've got 1 year from filing, unless you've already publically disclosed the info, then from what i recall, you're screwed.

i am a paralegal for an Intellectual Property Law firm, and usually we have summer associates or just low level associates do work for smaller clients to save costs. either way, you're looking at spending over US $1,000 to get a patent, more likely 2-3gs for it. if it's in any way technical, you're going to be hard pressed to get the protection you want out of your invention without an attorney...

keep doing your research, and keep it to yourself. if you want any help or anything, send me a PM and i'll see what i can do.

Vita, I'm going to send you one too. lol

I am an IP paralegal for a corporation. I handle trademarks & Internet matters (the closest I've come to patent work is due diligence work).

 

[bran987]

nice work vita, thanks for the info.