Why Should I Obtain a Patent?

Why Should I Obtain A Patent?

  • 20 Years of Market Exclusivity
  • Monetize through Enforcement, Licensing or Sale
  • Dent the Universe: Contribute to Mankind’s Knowledge

A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date on which the patent application was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees. United States patent grants are effective only within the U.S., U.S. territories, and U.S. possessions. Under certain circumstances, patent term extensions or adjustments may be available.The right conferred by the patent grant is, in the language of the statute and of the grant itself, “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States or “importing” the invention into the United States. What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell, or import; but the grant confers the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing the invention. Once a patent is issued, the patentee must enforce the patent without aid of the USPTO.

Patent Eligibility Opinion & IP Assessment

Patent Eligibility Opinion & IP Assessment

If you’ve developed a unique idea, you might be wondering if it’s patent eligible. Whether you’re an individual inventor or representing an idea for a business, most people start their inquiries here. Our registered patent attorneys offer inventors an affordable analysis to determine if patenting is the right avenue of protection for them. Sometimes, other areas of IP need to be addressed in parallel, including: trademarks, trade secrets, and copyright law. Your Bold patent attorney will help you assess all areas of IP related to your invention in the context of your business goals.
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Patentability Search & Legal Opinion

Patentability Search & Legal Opinion

Once you have determined that your idea is patent eligible, you will need to do a comprehensive search to determine whether the idea has previously been developed, published, or patented. A professional search and legal opinion will provide you the advice you really need to be able to make the decision to move forward.
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Provisional Patent Application

Provisional Patent Application

After completing the comprehensive search and getting a positive opinion on patentability, filing a provisional patent application (PPA) is the best next move. A PPA provides you with the highly coveted “patent pending” status. This will allow you or your business to begin marketing the idea and seeking a secure investment.
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Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application

Non-Provisional (Utility) Patent Application

Once your provisional patent has been filed, you must seek a non-provisional patent application (NPA), also called a Utility Patent Application, within a year in order for your patent to be granted. If the year passes without an NPA  being filed, the security of your idea or invention will be at risk. This is also the time to consider expediting examination and/or filing internationally. Most hardware products have both design and utility patent protection.
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Design Patent Applications

Design Patent Applications

With most hardware or tangible goods inventions, the shape of the product, with its specific design is incredibly important in marketing and promotion. With a design patent, the look and feel of your invention is protected, securing the design features of the invention that make it uniquely yours. Most hardware products have both design and utility patent protection.
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Patent Infringement & Validity Opinions

Patent Infringement & Validity Opinions

If you have been falsely accused of patent infringement or if another party has infringed on your patented IP, we are fully equipped to analyze the situation and provide you with concrete astute legal opinions to confirm or deny infringement, patent validity, or both.
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Three Types Of Pattens:

Utility Patents

May be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.
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Design Patents

May be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.
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Plant Patents

May be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
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Patent Search Options

No Search Pro Se Search (Doing it by themselves) Patent Attorney Search
Does Your Invention have the Requirements for Patenting? (Eligibility, Novelty, Nonobviousness, Utility) Unknown: There has been no search performed at all Unclear: The results are only partial and not thorough Confirmed: Complete, world-wide search including non-patent literature
Strength of Your Patent Application? Weakest: Surface level, no reference points, does not cover areas of novelty in detail Weaker: Lacking in detail, reference guessing, surface level Strong Patent Application: all reference points and differentiators with clear direction
Your Time? Very High Risk to missing obvious prior art Your time spent searching instead of building a business or planning; high Risk to missing prior art Time spent building your business, learning about competitors and adapting; Very Low risk to Missing prior art
Your Money? Waste of money spent on patent application and fees Waste of money spent on patent application and fees Money well invested in doing the right thing
Legal Analysis? None None Includes Legal Analysis
Legal Opinion? None None Includes Legal Opinion
Consulting/Advising? None None Full access to Patent Attorney who will be Dedicated to your case

Other Patent Services Offered by Bold Patents

Post-Grant Actions

Pre-Filing for Patenting Process

Prepared to start the patenting process? Bold Patents offers a number of services that will fit all of your patent needs! See the list below for our full list of patent prosecution service offerings.

  • Patentability Search & Opinion
  • For a client that wants to know what patents or publications (known as prior art) are already out in the public. This helps answer the basic question of novelty: “Is my invention or improvement really new?”
  • What Is the Patent Search Process?
  • Bold Patents works with your businesses to gain an understanding of the strategic business goals and prepares an in depth market-centric analysis of your current patents and pending applications to identify which patents and publications should be maintained, reworked or abandoned. Further, the analysis will identify opportunities for innovation and areas which represent a gap in technology that is necessary to achieve the short or long term business goals.
  • Eligibility: Does My Invention Even Qualify?
  • Timeline and Expectations for Patentability Analysis
  • Portfolio Analysis
  • Bold Patents works with your businesses to gain an understanding of the strategic business goals and prepares an in depth market-centric analysis of your current patents and pending applications to identify which patents and publications should be maintained, reworked or abandoned. Further, the analysis will identify opportunities for innovation and areas which represent a gap in technology that is necessary to achieve the short or long term business goals.
  • Invention Harvesting
  • Our team will come on-site to your business where your research and development team works to do a 1, 2 or 3 day “invention harvesting” workshop. The workshop begins by developing a set of “technology gaps” between the present day and where the company is going 3-5 years down the road. Making Bold Leaps to close the technology gaps will be accomplished through either invention or protection via trade secrets.
  • Landscape Report & Analysis
  • The objective of a Landscape study in a particular technology domain/market area is to provide analysis of existing knowledge on that specific technology and to indicate empty spaces (where there is either an unmet need or a unsolved problem).
  • Evidence of Use Charts & Analysis
  • Evidence of Use (EoU) helps patent owners identify potentially infringing products in the marketplace. Our EoU charts patent claim elements to specific features of identified products and services, and provides an indication of the strength of patent infringement assertion.