Patents 5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Them
You’ve realized that you are in need of experts, because you can no longer do things yourself. The business world becomes a quickly moving fast paced atmosphere, and those who can not keep up get lost in the whirlwind. Instead of struggling to keep your head above water, seek out the help of professionals to make this easier. Considering the four ways to protect intellectual property, choosing the right way is vital to keeping them safe from competitors. The internet is constantly expanding leading to more and more ideas being developed, leading to as many as six times more patent applications as were processed in 1980. This means that it is more vital than ever to have patent attorneys assist you with this process. Read below to see other interesting facts, that you probably didn’t know about concerning patents.
Time is of Essence
There is only so long after sharing your idea with others or offering what you invented that you can get a patent. The time limit is typically 12 months. After this time frame there is no guarantee that anything can be done should anyone else attempt to file a patent with your ideas. It is also important to know that the 12 month time limit is only available in the United States. There is no guarantee that other countries will offer the same thing, so you should become familiar with the laws before it is too late.
You Must be First
A patent is only available to the first person who comes up with the idea. After an idea has been patented then no one else can get one. If you find that you believe someone got a patent on your idea then you should probably contact a patent lawyers. Patent lawyers can help you out what happened, help explain the ins and outs when it comes to a patent law. A patent attorney can help you understand what you should do and what your next steps could be.
Patents Expire
You only have so long before the patent that you filed expires. 20 years after you file is when it expires. These terms used to be different, therefore it’s important to know the patent laws and keep up with them. This is where patent attorneys can be extremely useful. They are always learning new things about patent laws, but this is their job. They constantly learn new things so they can share this information with you.
Costs More than You Thought
There is initially a fee to get your patent, but there are also other fees that are associated with a patent. There are maintenance fees which must be paid, or your patent will not be maintained. These fees are dues usually 3 1/2. 7 1/2 and 11 1/2 years. Failure to pay these means your patent will become abandoned. Patent attorneys can help you keep up with these costs and help ensure that they are paid.
Be Careful Who You Hire
A normal attorney is not allowed to draft a patent for a client. There are specialized attorneys that must do this and them only. Patent attorneys are specifically trained and are the only attorneys that can do this. Their education coupled with knowledge and experience should be what sets them apart from other patent attorneys when making your choice.
There are certain guidelines which must be met before a patent will be issued including it being non-obvious but still useful and a novelty. These can get confusing quick meaning your patent attorney can help you most when it comes to these matters. Trust them to help walk you through the process of getting the patent, help you keep it current, and guide you for the next steps once it expires.
