Comments on: The U.S. Entrepreneurs Guide to Patents http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:18:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BigRyanPark http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-155979 BigRyanPark Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:39:53 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-155979 First of, great article! Very helpful information, loved it. I may receve heat for this, but a large part of being an entreprenuer is also using someone elses idea and applying it in a realm where it is more applicable (especially with service-based ideas). Also, adding and building on top of someone elses idea can be a great way to start a company...and thrive. As a young entrepreneur, I would like to know what you think about this? Also, on the reverse side of things, besides searching the US Patent Office Database (website), is there another way to find out if someone's idea is patented? Ryan www.twitter.com/BigRyanPark First of, great article! Very helpful information, loved it.

I may receve heat for this, but a large part of being an entreprenuer is also using someone elses idea and applying it in a realm where it is more applicable (especially with service-based ideas). Also, adding and building on top of someone elses idea can be a great way to start a company…and thrive.

As a young entrepreneur, I would like to know what you think about this? Also, on the reverse side of things, besides searching the US Patent Office Database (website), is there another way to find out if someone’s idea is patented?

Ryan
http://www.twitter.com/BigRyanPark

]]> By: Dale B. Halling http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-149044 Dale B. Halling Thu, 07 May 2009 00:32:47 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-149044 Good Article. My clients use provisional patent applications for two reasons: 1) to determine if there invention makes economic sense before they spend the money on a non-provisional patent application, and 2) so they can say patent pending inexpensively. Good Article. My clients use provisional patent applications for two reasons: 1) to determine if there invention makes economic sense before they spend the money on a non-provisional patent application, and 2) so they can say patent pending inexpensively.

]]> By: Michael Schrader http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-148761 Michael Schrader Tue, 05 May 2009 11:37:51 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-148761 I think this article is a great start but really needs some expansion. I currently have 6 patents pending with the US government and I think Brett Trout hit the nail on the head. Doing a full blown patent search and writing your own patent application is well beyond the capabilities of most entrepreneurs, even the most intelligent. As expensive as a good patent attorney is, they are worth it. Not only will they guarantee that your idea is protected, but I have also had a few of them add very valuable ideas to my invention, making the idea even better than I had envisioned. Thanks for the good article. I think this article is a great start but really needs some expansion. I currently have 6 patents pending with the US government and I think Brett Trout hit the nail on the head. Doing a full blown patent search and writing your own patent application is well beyond the capabilities of most entrepreneurs, even the most intelligent. As expensive as a good patent attorney is, they are worth it. Not only will they guarantee that your idea is protected, but I have also had a few of them add very valuable ideas to my invention, making the idea even better than I had envisioned.

Thanks for the good article.

]]> By: bizguy http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-148637 bizguy Mon, 04 May 2009 18:06:14 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-148637 Thanks so much for your comments so far - patents are a huge topic and indeed this is just a summary. Brett and Gene have made some really valid points! @Elsoft - There are various different patents available, country specific and international. You need to apply for the one applicable to your invention. Thanks so much for your comments so far – patents are a huge topic and indeed this is just a summary. Brett and Gene have made some really valid points!

@Elsoft – There are various different patents available, country specific and international. You need to apply for the one applicable to your invention.

]]> By: Brett Trout http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-148635 Brett Trout Mon, 04 May 2009 17:41:19 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-148635 Nice article. I would caution inventors however, on drafting their own claims, which are the most important part of the patent. Drawings and descriptions are relatively straightforward, but claims are a minefield for the unwary. Not all patents are created equal. If an inventor is not careful, poorly drafted claims may narrow the patent, making it easy to circumvent. Finally, as Gene noted, a poorly drafted provisional patent will destroy the filing priority for anything you accidentally leave out. Brett Nice article. I would caution inventors however, on drafting their own claims, which are the most important part of the patent. Drawings and descriptions are relatively straightforward, but claims are a minefield for the unwary.

Not all patents are created equal. If an inventor is not careful, poorly drafted claims may narrow the patent, making it easy to circumvent.

Finally, as Gene noted, a poorly drafted provisional patent will destroy the filing priority for anything you accidentally leave out.

Brett

]]> By: Gene Quinn http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-148625 Gene Quinn Mon, 04 May 2009 15:05:39 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-148625 This post is quite good, and unlike many other blogs or newspapers that write about patents and get it wrong. The one thing I would say is that you technically do not need to prove small entity status. You can merely check the box on the application transmittal form and claim it. This satisfies the legal requirement of claiming it in writing. I also really like how you describe a provisional patent application. For years I have tried to focus on the legal aspects of the provisional patent application and inventors never seem to really understand its benefit. Thinking of it as an intent to file a nonprovisional is a very good way to get the primary gist of a provisional. It is important to remember, however, that the provisional patent application needs to completely define the invention, otherwise the filing priority you receive will be worthless. -Gene This post is quite good, and unlike many other blogs or newspapers that write about patents and get it wrong. The one thing I would say is that you technically do not need to prove small entity status. You can merely check the box on the application transmittal form and claim it. This satisfies the legal requirement of claiming it in writing.

I also really like how you describe a provisional patent application. For years I have tried to focus on the legal aspects of the provisional patent application and inventors never seem to really understand its benefit. Thinking of it as an intent to file a nonprovisional is a very good way to get the primary gist of a provisional. It is important to remember, however, that the provisional patent application needs to completely define the invention, otherwise the filing priority you receive will be worthless.

-Gene

]]> By: Elsoft http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-148621 Elsoft Mon, 04 May 2009 14:20:51 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-148621 Thanks of a nice point made.I have question I hope you dont mind answering.Is the patent obtained from US applicable only in US or is it valid internationally? Thank you. www.surefirehire.com Thanks of a nice point made.I have question I hope you dont mind answering.Is the patent obtained from US applicable only in US or is it valid internationally?

Thank you.
http://www.surefirehire.com

]]> By: Stefanie Hartman http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/2009/05/the-us-entrepreneurs-guide-to-patents/comment-page-1/#comment-148580 Stefanie Hartman Mon, 04 May 2009 10:07:36 +0000 http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/?p=956#comment-148580 Great post. Thanks for all the helpful patent info. Great post. Thanks for all the helpful patent info.

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