patent application - advice & info

A patent application helps protect your investment in your product creation. You don't need to file a patent but if you don't, competitors can legally copy your invention.

Many people don't know how to apply for a patent. However, a patent application can be simple & straightforward if you know how.

When you make a patent application you have to follow a fixed set of procedures. It's possible to use a broker, a lawyer or do it yourself.


Here's a simple, 5 step summary for a typical patent application :

List the main features of your invention
List all the variations of these features & components
Check for similar patents, and pick up class & subclass for your idea too
Search again, and also incorporate the class numbers you've discovered.
Now you've found other patents very close (but hopefully not the same) to your idea, and you can proceed to make full application.

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