Have you invented something that has a high demand? Are you planning to sell it without a patent? Well, don't! It is best not to sell your original idea without getting a patent for your hard work. A Patent right will prevent others from using it as their idea under their brand name. A patent is very similar to copyright; wherein nobody will use your work without your permission. You can take legal actions against those who use your idea without giving you any prior information.
Now that you are aware of the benefits of having a patent let's know more about the types of patents and how to patent an idea and sell it!
The various types of patents depend upon the kind of work you want a patent for. When you get a patent, they question the category of your work or invention.
There are primarily three types of patents- Design Patent, Utility Patent, and plant patent.
A Utility Patent is for those who invent some unique and useful things. Machines, composite matters, and manufactured articles or goods get a utility patent.
Those individuals who make or create a new design of some manufactured goods get a Design Patent.
Plant Patent is for those who invent a different and original variety of plants. It happens as a result of asexual reproduction or research.
Patenting an idea is not an easy task. There are some difficulties that you will have to face. However, we have reduced your work by giving you a step by step guide on patenting an idea and selling it!
In simple words, 'Patentability Opinion' means discussing the quality of your idea. You have to provide all the necessary details of your idea to the patent office. After they listen to you, the patent office will understand why your creation needs a patent. Disclose everything about your invention, to begin with, the process of getting a patent.
After disclosing every detail about your invention, now it's time to file a patent application. A patent application is a document in which you have to mention your invention's nature, features, and quality. Analyze and write how your design will impact other people. You will also have to state the reason why you should get a patent for your idea.
Make sure that your application is impactful. It should be convincing enough so that you can get a patent quickly. You can also take the help of patent offers. After filling the application, you can submit it to the patent office.
It is a significant and tricky step. In this step, you will have to present your application to the court of law. Don't worry; it won't be a legal battle! It would be more like a debate between the applicant and the patent issuing officer. You will have to convince them why your idea needs a patent. Once the patent office gives you a written response, you can go for prosecution.
As a next step, you should contact your attorney and then convince the examiner why your idea needs a patent. In this step, you will have to provide all the required details of your innovation convincingly. Once the patent officer is convinced you will get a patent.
If you successfully convince the patent officer, then you will receive a patent. But what if you fail to convince them? If your points are not well presented and fail to impress the officers, they will have the upper hand in not giving you the patent. If you feel that your invention deserves a patent, then go ahead and retry. You will have to file a fresh appeal at the Patent Office also.
If your appeal for a patent gets approved, you will receive a patent along with the maintenance fees. You will receive some money for your invention, which has a patent by the patent office. However, you will only receive this amount for a limited period.
So, these were easy to follow steps on how to get yourself a patent. But there are a few things you must know before filing a patent. Let's take a look at them.
Before filing a patent, there are a few things that you should look at.
Is your invention disclosed?
Before filling your invention, make sure that it is unique. Check if similar creations have been made by someone else or not. You can search the keyword on the web and then do a bit of research to ensure that your innovation is unique.
Is your innovation marketable?
Make sure that your innovation is unique and is marketable or has business potential. If your invention is marketable only then, you'll benefit from it by transferring it to a producer. The producer will make a specimen, and then you can comfortably enjoy a part of the profit.
We are living in a creative world, where you can make profits from them. Your creation should stand out, and it should have a broader perspective. It should be unique enough to convince the officers to give you a patent. Also, keep your innovation secretive because once somebody uses your unpatented idea, you cannot take any legal action against that person. Follow all the steps in this article to get your unique concept patented without any hassle.
Also Read: What is a patent? What are the types of patent?