What is the process of getting a patent?
• The inventor completes an Invention Disclosure Form or some other form of written disclosure which provides the patent attorney with a description of the invention and other important information. • The patent attorney conducts a novelty search at the Patent and Trademark Office. This search will reveal US patents (if any) that cover inventions similar to yours. (You might want to do your own preliminary search before ordering a professional search). • If, after reviewing the results of the novelty search, you decide to proceed further, the patent attorney will prepare and file an application for you. You may now mark the product “patent pending”. The patent application will be held in confidence by the Patent Office, so only you and your attorney will know what it contains or be able to view the file, for 18 months from your earliest filing date, at least. (But see the next question, about publication of patent applications after 18 months) • A Patent Examiner at the Patent Office w
