Imagine you have an innovative product in the making but before you bring it to the market, somebody steals your idea and launches it before you. How does that feel? Pretty heartbreaking, right?
In this article, find out what a patent is, its benefits and how you can patent your new product in the US so that you don’t have to go through any major heartbreaks.
WHAT’S A PATENT AND WHY SHOULD YOU GET ONE?
A patent is a possession right that the government grants to inventers to prohibit others from creating or using an invention for a limited time period (usually twenty years). In case somebody steals your innovation, the patent endows you the right to take legal action against the guilty party.
You may choose to get your new product patented for several reasons. Some of these include:
- To gain recognition
- To protect your intellectual property
- To profit from your invention
Usually, profit is the main incentive.
In order for your product or idea to be patentable, it must fall into any of these categories:
- Plant Patent: Rarest of all, these patents are for special plants that you can reproduce asexually.
- Utility Patent: You can obtain this patent for making a new item or process if you can prove that your invention is useful. It gives you control of the invention and nobody can use it for a definite time period unless you allow it.
- Design Patent: You may qualify for this patent if you add a characteristic element to a manufactured item. You must introduce an attractive feature or produce a completely new design.
If your product has a characteristic appearance and design and it also includes new technologies, then you may qualify for Utility as well as Design Patents.
HOW TO GET YOUR NEW PRODUCT PATETED IN THE US?
Now that you know what benefits patent holds for you, we’re sure you’d want to get your product patented soon.
To get a patent in the US, you first need to make sure that your idea is patentable, which necessitates that your product is fully established and that nobody else has already patented it.
Next, determine the kind of patent that you need (utility, design or plant). Once you have identified the type of patent needed, you can contemplate your application strategy and whether to use professional legal services. The last step is to file an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) which can be an intricate procedure depending on the type of your patent.
Also, your application is subject to the payment of a basic fee and additional fees that comprise a search fee, an examination fee and issue fee. Depending on your application, there may also be additional rights fees. Details regarding fees can be seen on the official website of USPTO.
Filing a patent for your new product can be time-consuming and overwhelming. But, you don’t have to worry. At AJProTech, we not only help entrepreneurs design and develop new products, but we also help you obtain funding and patent for your brainchild.
Not sure how we can help? Here’s an example: Ultra-slim Smartphone Charger
From complete electrical and mechanical design to the mass manufacturing, we did it all in this project. Not only that, but we also conducted a thorough research to identify the already patented designs so that we do not commit patent infringement. And, we got our design patented due to its novelty and innovation.