Writing from a blank sheet of paper is hard—whether you’re writing business plans, love notes or even patent applications. Using a template is always easier, right? Well…
If you’re trying to figure out how to patent an idea, you’ve likely done plenty of research on the patent application process, which may have even led you to download a provisional patent application template, like the one offered on Stanford’s website.
While one of these templates may help you organize your thoughts, what they won’t do is inform you of the formal requirements for patent applications. For instance, if you’ve been selling your product for a year, you can’t file a new patent, and you’re stuck.
Formal requirements for the patent application process is where I see the majority of mistakes with inventors, startups and other businesses, yet it’s also the exact type of problem no online resource (especially provisional patent application templates!) can help you sort out. For instance, you don’t explain how a component works because you want to keep that part a secret. That hidden part will not be patentable.
Additionally, if you’re downloading templates to save time or effort on your patent application, you might be in for big trouble down the road.
If an idea is worth patenting, it will likely also be worth actual revenue—taking the time to write your patent application properly with the help of a professional service provider is your best bet to protect your business in the future. Do some calculation on how much it is worth to you to protect your revenue to help you decide how much you should spend getting your idea patented. I have tools to figure out how much a patent costs here.
This is the third 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—FAQ.
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.