How you get a patent for an invention
Process map by Brian. 15 steps, 2 layers. Tags: business, law, inventing, intellectual property.
- Inventor: Come up with something new and useful
- Patent attorney: Search to see if it already exists
- Patent attorney: Is it new and not obvious?
- Patent attorney: Write the claims that define what is protected
- Patent office: File the application
- Patent office: An examiner reviews it for a year or more
- Patent office: Does the examiner object?
- Patent attorney: Respond and amend the claims
- Patent office: Patent is granted, usually for 20 years
- Inventor: Pay fees to keep it alive and defend it against copycats
- Competitors: After 20 years anyone can use the invention
- Inventor: Change the idea or drop it
$Business $Law $Inventing $Intellectual Property All process maps