When meeting with a registered patent attorney, patent agent, or patent practitioner, it’s important to prepare in advance and come ready with appropriate information. With these five tips and the accompanying checklist, you can make the most of your consultation:
Do your due diligence – know your prior art
To obtain a patent, you must be the first person in the entire world to have conceived of your invention. Therefore, do extensive research to ensure that your idea does not already exist. The first step is to search patent databases, such as google patents, USPTO patent search, to see if your invention is already patented. If it has, you may not be eligible to obtain a patent.
Plan to discuss it in detail with a patent attorney.
Articulate your invention effectively through words and drawings clearly. If you are concerned about confidentiality, it’s important to understand that all patent practitioners, patent attorneys and patent agents, are bound by law to keep your information confidential. That means they can’t tell anyone about your invention without your permission. So, if you’re worried about someone stealing your idea, rest assured that your patent attorney will keep it secret.
It would be best to articulate your invention and how it works clearly. The patent attorney will need this information to determine whether or not your invention is patentable and write an effective patent application. To help prepare for this discussion, take some time to write down a description of your invention and how it works. This will help you communicate your ideas more clearly to the patent attorney.
Your patent attorney will need to see all of your visual work, including drawings, illustrations, and pictures. If you have a prototype, that can be helpful, but it is not required. You should also bring any writings, including any hand-written notes, word documents, or printouts from your patent search.
To patent your invention, you will need to meet with a patent attorney and speak clearly about your invention’s details. It is best to write down everything you want to convey to the patent attorney beforehand, so you cover all elements of your invention. This will help ensure that no important information is left out and allow you to refer back to your notes during the meeting. With careful preparation and clear communication, you will communicate every detail of your invention, which is very important for your patent attorney to know.
Inform patent attorney about public disclosure
If you are considering patenting your invention, it is important to keep in mind that any disclosure of your invention to anyone outside of a patent attorney may jeopardize your patent rights. This disclosure includes offers for sale or actual sales of your invention and any publications of your invention in a magazine, newspaper, or online. Therefore, it is safest to contact a patent attorney before making any such public disclosure.
However, if you made any disclosure, it is critical to inform your patent attorney and the timeline of when you made such a disclosure. Even if you have a nondisclosure agreement or confidentiality agreement, these agreements may not be enough to protect your patent rights. Therefore, it is important to inform the patent attorney if any such public disclosure was made. By taking these precautions, you can help ensure that you preserve your patent rights and give yourself the best chance of success.
What are your business and product development plans?
Your patent attorney needs to know your business and product development plans. This information will assist them in determining what type of patent application is best for you. Even if you do not want to discuss details with them, inform them that they will sell it yourself or license it to someone else. If you’re going to sell it, how will you manufacture and distribute it? Additionally, communicate with them where you are in your product development and the projected timeline for the product development. This information will assist them in drafting the best possible patent application for you.
Know the patent process
When you have an idea that you think is worth patenting, it’s important to know the patent process to protect your intellectual property rights. Although you will need to work with a patent attorney or agent who will help guide you through filing your patent application, knowing and understanding the entire patent process is vital.
The patent process typically includes a professional patent search to see whether similar ideas already exist and filing a patent application with the USPTO. In another blog, we detail what makes a good patent application. After it has been filed, your patent application will go through an examination and review process during which examiners at the US Patent Office may request additional information or make suggestions for adjustments. Finally, if the US Patent Office approves your patent, you can begin to use your patent rights to protect yourself from infringement by others. Read more about our patent process and the USPTO patent process here.
What is your budget
Considering the high cost of patent lawyers and law firms, hiring a patent attorney is often unaffordable, especially if you go with a large law firm with expensive overheads. Of course, the final cost of patenting your invention will depend on several factors, such as its level of complexity and the size of the law firm you decide to hire. Generally speaking, larger patent law firms tend to charge higher prices due to their overhead costs. Regardless of which approach you choose; however, it is clear that patenting your idea can be an extremely costly undertaking.
We offer affordable customized flat fees because we keep our overheads low and pass the cost-saving on to our clients. So, contact us for your free initial.
Patent attorneys visit checklist
- Invention detailed writeups.
- Inventions Images/Sketches/Drawings.
- Patent Search Results.
- Business Goals.
- Timeline for your product development
- Questions about the general patent process
- Budget for your intellectual property
Contact us for your initial free consultation
Applying for a patent is a complex and time-consuming process, so it’s vital to ensure you have all the necessary information and materials before you begin. Consult with a biotech patent attorney, medical patent attorney, or patent agent to discuss your options and make sure you understand the requirements for patenting your product. Once you’re ready to file for a patent, hire a patent attorney or patent agent to do the drafting and filing for you. This will save you time and money in the long run. Contact us for your free initial consultation.
