How To Patent An Invention
Protect Your Ideas, Patent Your Invention
Questions to Ask a Patent Lawyer
Inventing something is the most important step in getting a new product onto the market. But equally important is patenting your idea. Finding a patent lawyer is a very good way for you to get through the patent application process with a minimum of hassle and stress. You should always be interviewing potential patent lawyers, but in order to find one that’s worth the money you need to know what questions. So, here are five of the most important questions to ask a patent lawyer before hiring them.
The first thing to ask when finding a patent lawyer is what is their background. The practice of patent law is very specialized that requires extensive training in technical science and the patent application process. The attorney you have now is likely nowhere near qualified enough to handle the patent application process. You also need to know if the US Patent and Trademark Office have certified the patent lawyer. If they are not, then they cannot act as your patent lawyer.
Secondly, you need to ask a patent lawyer how the patent process application works exactly. This is especially important to know why how competent the patent lawyer is. If they can provide you a detailed analysis of every step of the process then you are on your way to finding a patent lawyer that is worth their fee.
A good patent lawyer should be able to take you all the way from a patent search to filing the patent application, as well as what happens if the patent is initially rejected. They should also explain to you things like obtaining international patents and licensing of your invention.
The fees that a patent lawyer charges should be among your questions. Since the patent application process can drag on for months or years, an unclear fee schedule could be asking for trouble. Any good patent lawyer should be able to point out exact fee schedules for all the services they provide.
When finding a patent lawyer, it’s important for you to know just how involved you get to be in the patent application process. You are trying to patent your invention, which is something very personal to you. It may be an indication of a problem if the patent lawyer wants to limit your involvement. You should be involved enough that you feel comfortable with the patent attorney on more than a superficial level, you will likely be involved with them for a long time.
As with any legal agreement, you need to ask a patent lawyer if everything they have told you will be put in writing. You need extensive documentation of everything you do with your patent attorney in order to protect your idea. Any action they can has an impact on patenting your idea, you need to have their duties specified in a contract.