Of the hundreds of people who have come through my door over the years trying to figure out how to patent an idea, the majority of them have similar questions—at least at the start. In the interest of time, I’ve provided a few answers to frequently asked questions here.
Q: Do I really need a patent?
A: If you’re working on something groundbreaking, or even just useful, yes. A patent will add value to your idea by protecting your future revenue stream. It can also add to your company valuation if you’re looking to raise funding.
Q: Should I use a lawyer or a DIY service like LegalZoom’s self-help product?
A: Use a patent attorney. A patent attorney is supposed to add value to your product. The money you ‘save’ by filing a patent yourself pales in comparison to the enhanced revenue you’ll receive from properly filing your patent.
Q: What does a patent lawyer actually do?
A: A successful patent application, submission and maintenance process is a series of carefully orchestrated steps. A patent attorney ensures you get the maximum benefit out of your patent by coordinating dozens of activities between you, any involved third parties, and the USPTO to make sure nothing gets missed and everything goes according to plan.
Q: Where can I find an engineer to help me build a prototype?
A: Contact me—I have a great relationship with U.C. Davis and am happy to provide a referral to help build your idea.
Q: Any tips to help me get started with my idea?
A: Read Art of the Start 2.0 by Guy Kawasaki.
Looking for more details? Contact my office today to set an appointment.
This is the fourth post in an eight-part series called How To Patent An Idea. To continue reading, please go to the next post, How To Patent An Idea—4 Simple Steps Before Filing A Provisional Patent.
If you’re reading out of order, no worries! Click here to go back to the first post, How To Patent An Idea—A Gross Oversimplification.