Patents

The world of patents is important but can often prove complicated to navigate. In the Patent section, we’ll look at whether you should patent your idea, how to patent your idea, along with other patent related tidbits.

Licensing a Stagnant Patent from an Inventor

Have you found a great idea that is already patented but never commercialized? You’re an inventor that has just come up with a great idea. You did a quick Internet search and your invention idea didn’t show up which you take as great news. After investing a couple of hundred dollars into a prototype you believe that your invention idea [...]

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Patent Attorney or Patent Agent, What’s the Difference?

Should an inventor go with a patent agent or a patent attorney? In this post, we’ll be looking at the major differences between a patent attorney and a patent agent to help inventors better decide which one they should go with. Patent Agents Requirements for Patent Agents They need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. [...]

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Rules for Hiring a Patent Attorney

A few rules inventors should follow before hiring a patent attorney. Hiring a patent attorney might be the best thing that you can do when it comes to getting a patent filed. However, it can also be a nightmare if you don’t take the time to follow a few very important rules. Make sure the patent attorney is registered with [...]

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What Inventors Should Know Before Deciding Not to Hire a Patent Attorney

Is hiring a patent attorney really the only way to go? Sure, it’s possible for an average garage inventor to draft, file, and potentially prosecute their patent through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, most inventors who have been there and done that will tell you that hiring a professional patent counsel should be the only way to [...]

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Identifying and properly referencing your patent drawings

Patent Drawing Numbering

Identifying and clearly referencing your patent drawings is extremely important per the USPTO. Continuing on with our theme of information specifically concerning patent drawings, we’ll be talking today about how to identify and properly reference your patent drawings per the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requirements. At times, it might seem that these requirements are a bit excessive. [...]

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Inventors, How to Work with a Draftsman on your Patent Drawings

Tips and Tricks to Finding the Perfect Draftsman for your Patent Drawings. As we mentioned in our post Basic Information About Patent Drawings That You Must Know, patent drawings are almost always essential when you submit your patent application for your invention to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Therefore, you essentially have two options: (1) you can either [...]

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Basic Information About Patent Drawings That Inventors Must Know

Engine Turbine Patent Drawing

What ALL Inventors Should Know At a Minimum When it Comes to Patent Drawings Today, we’ll be talking about the absolute basics that you need to know when it comes to patent drawings.  Failure to understand and adhere to the patent drawing rules set out by the USPTO can have some serious and time consuming ramifications when it comes to [...]

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Fast Track your Patents through the USPTO

Want a decision on your patent in less than a year by the United States Patent and Trademark Office?  Here’s what you need to know. One of the results of the America Invents Act was that inventors, just like you, could request that their patents receive “prioritized examinations”. In other words, that the evaluation of their patent application be expedited. [...]

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How to Protect your Artistic Invention Idea

The eMotion, Inspiration, Action (MIA) Multi-purpose Chair Being an inventor doesn’t just mean that you come up with just great new wonderful gadgets. Inventors can also be artists and designers too. Take for example designer Vivien Rink’s revolutionary eMotion, Inspiration, Action (MIA) multi-purpose chair. It’s a versatile lounger that rocks (i.e. back and forth) and reclines atop a trapezoidal base. [...]

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Inventors, Deduct Patent and R&D Costs from your U.S. Business Taxes

IRS Tax Image

What the IRS ‘Credit for Increasing Research Activities’ Means for Inventors The criteria when it comes to meeting the qualifications for the R&D tax credit might often be daunting for the new inventor with a small business. However, the problem isn’t necessarily the complexity of the tax law but the failure of inventors with an invention idea to recognize that [...]

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