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Once you have performed a patent search and determined that
the invention is patentable, the next step is to protect the
invention by filing a patent application with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. There are two primary types of patent
applications: the utility patent and the design patent.
UTILITY PATENT APPLICATION: A utility
patent application is typically the primary form of protection
for an inventor. A
utility patent can be used to protect any novel (and
non-obvious) device, apparatus, construction, machine,
composition of matter, industrial method, process, or even
a novel method of doing business. A utility patent lasts for
20 years from its filing date and prevents competitors
from making, using, selling, offering for sale, or importing
any products that infringe upon the claimed invention.
With a utility
patent application, you can expect to spend about
$6500 (potentially more for high technology or software
patents), plus costs, and a $500 government
filing-fee. To order a utility patent application, you
may download the Utility
Patent Application Request Form
and
follow the instructions.
DESIGN PATENT APPLICATION: A design
patent application protects the "ornamental
appearance" of an invention when the appearance of the
invention is important, a design patent can by
valuable. With a design patent application, you can
expect to spend $1200, plus a $215 government filing-fee. To order a design patent application, you may
download the Design
Patent Application Request Form and follow the
instructions.
If you have any
questions, please give me a call at 800-949-0255 (toll free),
or send an email to eric@karich.net.
Provisional Patent Application
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