The free patent information in the papers linked below are provided to help those new to the patent system understand the process of obaining protection for inventions, the costs they will incur, and how to avoid patent infringement. There is also a link to a page of references by other authors that have more in-depth coverage, as well as a set of links to various patent offices around the world.
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Paper Title |
Description |
| Application Procedures & Costs |
This paper is drafted to explain the patent application process, so that the investor in a patent application will have some idea of what to expect. There are four basic phases; each is explained. |
| Provisional Patent Application |
Many believe that a provisional patent application is a way to secure a filing date for a patent without investing in the expensive drafting and filing of a regular application. While a provisional application may have that effect, using that tactic is not without risk. |
| International Patent Applications |
Foreign patents are very valuable, but there are foreign filing license requirements and deadlines to be met. A brief explanation of the process is given. |
| Independent Inventors |
To protect an idea or invention, there are a number of resources for the independent inventor, in addition to the papers listed above. Watch out for invention development companies. |
| Avoiding Infringement - Product Clearance |
It is possible to obtain a patent on an invention and, at the same time, to infringe someone else's patent by practicing your own invention. Also, not having knowledge of the other's patent is no defense. The damages will still be measured in terms of a "reasonable royalty" or the patentee's lost profits. An injunction will likely issue if infringement is found. It can be avoided, however. Design around and product clearance are the ways. |