Warning Signs for New Inventors by Director of Patent Services USA
Gifted inventors with innovative products ideas must implement crucial but simple steps in order to protect their ideas from theft, or from being released prematurely into the public domain, thereby losing the ability to secure patent protection. The director of Patent Services USA is sharing his tips.
Be very careful is choosing a Patent attorney, as there are many “patent mills” that seek out excited inventors who are not fully informed on the pitfalls and risks associated with patent law, and promise the world, and yet cannot necessarily deliver.
When the begin receiving a flood of calls and emails from patent consultants seeking to sell you their services, be sure to be on the look out for some common warning signs.
The promises made by these businesses usually include lots of flowery words, and big promises, some of the following promises can be indicators of red-flag operations:
Promise 1.
Comprehensive Patent Searches for a very low cost.
FACT:
Patent Searches should always be conducted by a bona fide and registered Patent Attorney, whose personal name and contact information must be shared with you as per USPTO Ethic Rules. Beyond the research they should offer you a patentability opinion about their findings and how it relates to your budding idea. There is a significant difference between classification searches and a thorough legal patent search. Don’t let anyone confuse the two or claim they have the same value, it just doesn’t cut it.
Plus, According to the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), hiring a patent attorney to perform a search with patentability opinion can cost an average of $2,000.
QUESTIONS:
- Will this patent search include a legal patentability opinion specific to my innovation?
- Which patent attorney in your network is conducting the search?
- How can you justify the stark difference from AIPLA quotes for a patent search with a legal patentability opinion and yours?
2. Offers of 3D graphics, patent drawings and other supportive materials in stages
FACT:
To make an informed discussion about the potential of your innovation it is important to lay a strong foundation and supportive content such as independent market research, graphics and detailed documentation of your product is crucial to that foundation. In addition, it can empower you with a full scope of your idea all at once and not in minor stages.
QUESTIONS:How much time between each stage, what are they and why?
- How much time between each stage, what are they and why?
- What are the costs for these different stages and how will this affect my ability to begin the drafting of my patent application?
- Is there a cost after my filing for separate marketing services?
3. Prices that are noted with an * or do not clarify exact patent-pending protection
FACT:
Numbers will be thrown around as you speak to varied companies but it’s important to keep in mind the service you are receiving for your investment. There is no one-shop approach to developing intellectual property so there can’t be a one-price fits all for the services that support your intellectual property.
QUESTIONS:You have an asterisk (*) by your pricing what does that mean and what does this rate include exactly?
- You have an asterisk (*) by your pricing what does that mean and what does this rate include exactly?
- What type of patent protection will I have and how will the actions and execution of my application be handled?
- How did you come up with this pricing?
By:
George Montana of Patent Services USA
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