Video Series
A patent serves as a secure foundation for your innovation. When done correctly, it also represents a significant investment in your business.
From a legal standpoint, a patent prohibits others from infringing upon your invention in the market. However, the patenting process can be quite complex. That’s why we take pride in smoothly guiding you through each step. In this video series, we will outline the entire patent journey. We will clearly explain how we can assist you and provide tips to help you succeed in reaching the patent finish line.
Introduction – The Patent Process1. Before You Initiate a Patent Project
2. Two Criteria for Patentability
3. Is Your Idea Novel and Non-obvious?
4. Discovering the Best Prior Art
5. The Patent Application Process
6. Frequently Asked Questions Before Partnering With Us
Starting a Patent Project | 5.52
Obtaining a patent involves several steps. In this introductory video, part of a six-part series, patent attorney Frankard Perez of Ip Laws discusses the patent process for individual inventors and outlines the various types of patent protections available.
Understanding the different types of patents is crucial to determine which one best suits your invention and offers the most extensive protection. Additionally, it's important to confirm that your invention is indeed patentable, as some ideas and inventions may not qualify for patent protection for various reasons.
Do you need a patent, a trademark, or copyright? You may have this brilliant idea, and the next question is, what should you do with it? Who can you trust to discuss it? Can you share it with friends or family? Or should you approach a company first? It’s probably best not to go to a company right away. You might have started searching online for information about ideas, inventions, and patents. In your research, you’ve found your way to this website, realizing that pursuing a patent might be a crucial step for you, and together, we’ll explore that. One common trait among our clients is that they never planned to be inventors; they simply had an idea and now need to understand what steps to take and whether pursuing the idea is worthwhile. This series will answer the most common questions regarding the patent process and how you can navigate it effectively.
Perez Ip Laws (01:23):
So, you have an idea, and the next step is figuring out the best way to protect it. Under the law, various methods exist to safeguard different types of ideas. You may have heard of patents, trademarks, and copyrights, all of which fall under the umbrella of intellectual property law. This area of law concerns the protection and ownership of ideas. Our goal is to help you determine the best approach to owning your idea and identifying the appropriate type of protection for it.
Perez Ip Laws (02:09):
Let’s start with copyright law. Although copyright may not apply to your situation, it’s essential to understand its scope. You may have heard people say you should copyright your idea, but that likely doesn’t fit your circumstances. Copyright does not protect ideas; it protects the expression of artistic works such as books, movies, plays, poetry, and songs. Therefore, while copyright can protect the words used in a book, the underlying idea itself remains unprotected.
Perez Ip Laws (03:21):
The next form of protection is trademark law, which ensures consumers are not misled about the origin of a product. For example, when you see a can of Coca-Cola, you trust that it is genuine due to trademark law safeguarding that expectation. Trademarks can protect any element a company uses to identify its products or services, including names, logos, slogans, and even color schemes. Understanding trademark law is crucial if your invention centers around branding or product names, especially as you prepare to launch your product and consider trademarking those branding elements.
Perez Ip Laws (04:19):
The key takeaway for you right now is that if your focus is on the idea of a product, service, or application that distinguishes itself from existing options, then patent law will likely be the most relevant legal area for you. Patents protect new and useful inventions that meet specific criteria that the patent office evaluates when granting a patent. In the second part of this series, we’ll delve into the two primary criteria used to assess your patent eligibility.
