Got an Invention? A quick reference to getting started with filing a Patent.

Do you have an invention and have no idea where to start to protect your invention? You are not alone. People everywhere have inventions and don't even realize that there are ways to protect it through Patent Prosection Law. In addition, it takes a lot of time, but can be done without an attorney. The following is specific to the US only.

A good place to search is the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, in addition to some sites on this page. Many of them give a checklist from start to finish.

The first filing that ever occurs in any new invention is a Provisional Application. Prices may have changed but you can filed your invention for $100. From here, you will have 1 year to test, utilize, finalize, and make sure your invention is unique by researching the USPTO web-site database. This gives you an opportunity to decide whether you want to go forward or have created something else within this patent. If you have strayed from your original invention, file another provisional.

After this is completed, the doors have opened into the patent world and you will find that there are differnet filing options such as most commonly used utility, and not so commonly used design.

So, if you feel like that idea in your head just won't go away, check out the USPTO web-site, search to make sure it hasn't already been invented and is just not out there, and make your invention known!