| For those who cannot afford to dish out thousands | | | | sign as well. |
| of dollars for a patent lawyer, do it yourself patents | | | | 2. Make sure your invention qualifies for patent |
| can be a great alternative. Do it yourself patents can | | | | protection. In do it yourself patents you need to |
| be done if you are up to the challenge. It is not | | | | show that your invention is new, non-obvious and |
| impossible although the biggest drawback on do it | | | | useful. |
| yourself patents is that you are not afforded the | | | | 3. Assess the commercial potential of your invention. |
| luxury of having professional advice. | | | | Before you spend the time and money to file a |
| There are some of the advantages of do it yourself | | | | patent application, you need to research the market |
| patents that you cannot overlook though. Do it | | | | you hope to enter. |
| yourself patents could certainly save you money. | | | | 4. Do a thorough patent search. To make sure your |
| Also, doing it yourself enables you to learn several | | | | invention is new, you need to search all the earlier |
| skills most especially in research. When yo register a | | | | developments in your field. This involves searching |
| patent yourself the first and most basic step is to | | | | U.S. (patents, as well as other publications like |
| make sure that your invention qualifies for a patent | | | | scientific and technical journals, to find related |
| or what you call patentable. Also, to qualify with your | | | | inventions. |
| patents application you need to describe all aspects | | | | 5. Prepare and file an application with the USPTO. This |
| of your invention. Some steps on do it yourself | | | | step on do it yourself patents lets you have a choice |
| patents are easy, others are more difficult. | | | | when you file with the USPTO. You can file a |
| As with all new endeavors, you will succeed by trial | | | | full-blown regular patent application (RPA) or you can |
| and error. But by taking the process of doing it | | | | file a provisional patent application (PPA) on the |
| yourself patents one step at a time, you can acquire | | | | invention. Filing a PPA allows you to claim patent |
| a patent later on. | | | | pending status for the invention but involves only a |
| The following are the basic steps you need to do | | | | small fraction of the work and cost of a regular |
| when applying for a patent: | | | | patent application. All that is required to file a PPA is a |
| 1. Keep a careful record of your invention. When | | | | fee of $80 ($160 for large companies), a detailed |
| doing your patent yourself it is important to keep a | | | | description of the invention, telling how to make and |
| record of the invention process in a notebook. Sign | | | | use it, and an informal drawing. |
| and date each entry and have two reliable witnesses | | | | |