What do patent attorneys do?
In the steps outlined above, a patent attorney is critical for steps 2, 3, and 4. Steps 2 and 4 are almost exclusively carried out by the patent attorney. During step 3, the patent attorney and the inventor usually work together very closely. You may hear patent attorneys refer to steps 2, 3, and 4 as “patent prosecution.” However, the role of a patent attorney is not limited to simply helping an inventor get a patent! Patent attorneys also help with numerous other challenges, especially with those challenges that companies face when they have already received a large number of patents. Whether you are a one-time inventor, an inventor turned entrepreneur, or a well-established business determines which set of challenges a patent attorney may be able to help you with.
