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Bringing a new invention into the world is an exciting, creative process that can take up a lot of your energy and attention. The last thing you want is someone else to steal that valuable intellectual property! Protecting your I.P. is just as important as protecting any other valuable property. Navigating the USPTO patent system is no easy feat, though. You'll need some expert help. That's where Cad Crowd's patenting services come in.
Patents, of course, protect your invention from infringement. But they can also be a great asset when presenting your product to investors or approaching retailers or manufacturers about product licensing agreements. Patents offer a degree of reassurance and stability that translates to lower risk for investment partners and demonstrates that your product has been well developed.
Our network of expert U.S. patent attorneys is available to help you throughout the patent application process and help you patent an idea. Use our website to learn about the various types of patents and understand how the process works. When you are ready to file a patent application, we'll provide you with a free quote for the services you need. We also provide information on current USPTO patent filing fees. From patent searches to provisional applications to the prosecution of the non-provisional utility patent, we'll connect you with the expertise you need to navigate the USPTO system.
Patents have a long history in the Western world, stretching back at least 600 years. Their primary purpose is incentivizing inventors and innovators to share their ideas with their contemporaries. In exchange for helping the community advance technologically, patents grant the patentee exclusive rights to benefit from their innovation for a set period, providing them with an economic advantage in exchange for sharing their knowledge.
In the United States, patents are granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Each patent is a grant of security or protection for a new design or invention. Usually, this lasts 14 to 20 years because laws change over time, and patents issued at different dates will have additional terms. This allows owners to stop others from creating, using, or marketing their inventions without permission.
Unlike copyrights, which are granted automatically, it is up to the inventor whether or not they wish to seek patent protection. Inventors must apply for a patent, and specific requirements must be met. For utility patents (the kind which protects new inventions), those requirements are:
Patents are valuable for inventors or entrepreneurs who hope to profit from their ideas. Protecting your intellectual property is essential, whether licensing your product or marketing it yourself.
If two or more people are involved in creating an invention or new product design, the law requires all those involved to apply for the patent as joint inventors. Once a patent is filed, inventors can designate their product as 'patent pending' until the patenting prosecution is resolved. This is to inform the public, investors, or potential thieves that a patent may be forthcoming and may be liable for damages if they infringe upon it.
Are you looking for more information about how to get an idea patented? Check out the Cad Crowd blog for more articles related to patenting.
When applying for a patent, inventors are required to provide a patent drawing of the new invention. The patent drawing illustrates every feature of the invention that warrants a patent claim and is a vital element of a patent application. Patent drawings become part of the official record, setting a precedent that can be referred to in case of future intellectual property disputes. The requirements relating to patent drawings are strict and require expert oversight. It is highly recommended to employ the services of highly qualified and skilled patent drafters to make your drawings so that your application is not rejected on a technicality.
Cad Crowd offers freelance patent drawings and drafting services to help inventors illustrate their patent drawings according to the requirements of the USPTO. Avoid common mistakes with professional patent drawings that correctly showcase your invention's functional aspects and keep the patent examiners happy.
USPTO patent search services examine all prior patents and other relevant publications to ensure the invention is eligible for patent protection. Even if there is no patent for the invention already on file, any previous publication or anything sufficiently similar will result in a patent claim being rejected. This includes publications by the inventor or anyone else, with some limitations.
A patent search can save you time and money spent trying to patent an invention that is not patentable. Patent searches are an essential first step in the patenting process. We recommend that you do your preliminary patent search and then take advantage of our patenting services for a professional search from a qualified patent attorney.
Only a patent professional can effectively execute a patent search. Hundreds of thousands of patents are filed annually in the United States alone. Navigating the massive USPTO database requires knowledge of patent terminology and experience using it. It's much better to invest in a rigorous and reliable patent search than to waste time and money submitting an unpatentable application.
Patent searches are essential for all manner of patents, whether design patent applications or utility patent applications. With our patent search service, the work of sifting through the vast collection of prior patents is handled by experienced professionals.
Utility patents are the most common patent issued for novel machines/objects or processes. Utility patents cover technology, mechanics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or software. The holder of a utility patent is generally given a 20-year term, which grants them exclusive rights to the invention. Cad Crowd offers utility patent services to companies.
Utility patent applications tend to be more expensive than design patent applications. This is because utility patents offer more rigorous intellectual property protection. Utility patents protect the functional aspect of your invention rather than the visual characteristics, and a single patent may protect several product variations. This makes it more challenging to replicate the design legally or to create knock-offs or imitations, thus guaranteeing your invention a unique space in the market.
Utility patents are the main category of patents. They protect your invention and prevent other firms from copying it. This is also the primary patent that investors or potential licensees will be interested in seeing when evaluating whether to sign on to your project.
Design patents are a less common type of patent application and are unique to the United States. Design patents are issued for an original aesthetic design that permits the owner to prohibit others from making, using, or selling the design for fourteen years from the date the patent is granted. In other words, design patents protect the look of your product rather than the invention itself.
Design patents differ from utility patents in that they cover not the function of an invention but the look, shape, or pattern. Design patents protect brand imaging and presentation, rather than operational or mechanical details covered by a utility patent. We also offer design patent services to help clients apply for design patents that protect the aesthetic of your invention or product. It is often best to file for both utility and design patents simultaneously. Use our design patent service to get expert patent help at every step of the process.
Our patenting services are part of our complete range of product design and development solutions for inventors and entrepreneurs. Cad Crowd is dedicated to helping new product developers with everything from prototyping to production to patenting. Once you've got the patent, you're ready to start making things! Take advantage of our network of leading CAD designers, drafters, and 3D animators. We also offer manufacturing and prototyping services to help you get it made.
Please request a free quote; our legal contractors and patent lawyers will get you the protection you need. Let us know about your project, and we'll connect you with the expertise you need to succeed!