Intellectual Property Attorney Lutherville Timonium MD
The Inventor Q&A - Edition 1
Russell Williams founded Invention Home over 6 years ago to assist inventors with the marketing and licensing of their ideas. He's been asked nearly every invention-related question in the book, and shares his wisdom with you in this series, "The Inventor Q&A."
Question:
I have a new invention that I have been thinking about patenting for a while; do you think I could file a patent application on my own?
Answer:
I would say that the answer depends on the type of patent application you are filing.
If you are considering filing a utility patent application, I would caution you against filing the application on your own. I realize that there are many books on the topic of filing your own utility patent application, however, the process and level of detail required are not easy. Even with patent filing books as your guide, the process is difficult and requires a level of expertise that only comes with experience. Although you may be able to work through the components of the application, it is essential to capture the optimal language in the claims section to maximize the strength of your application. In my view, an inventor should rely on the expertise of a registered patent attorney when it comes to filing a utility patent application.
On the other hand, if you are considering a provisional patent application (PPA), it is possible to file a reasonably good application on your own.
Author: Russell Williams
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