My Article and Other Great Links About Patents and Protections for Inventors

How To use The USPTO Provisional Patent Program (HowToDoThings.com)

This is my article in regard to the "Provisional Patent Program", offered by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Did you know you can obtain a one-year patent, for a fee of only $100.00 (cost as of year 2007)?

A provisional patent is not only low cost but it gives an inventor a full year to test-market and sell his invention and afterward, he can re-evaluate whether a longer term patent is worth applying for, at the end of the one-year term. This is a wonderful opportunity for inventors to get full patent protection, while they develop their inventions! Read more at the link below.

http://www.howtodothings.com/business/how-to-use-the-uspto-provisional-patent-program

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office "Provisional Patent" Webpage

Inventors who are ready to launch their inventions but want to make sure they have the needed patent protection first, are sometimes not aware of the "Provisional Patent Program" offered by the USPTO. It is an incredibly cost effective patent that gives you one year of protection under a "patent pending", once your application is accepted in their office. The cost is only $100.00 for a "small entity" to file a provisional patent. Individuals and companies with less than 500 employess are included in the definition of a "small entity".

The USPTO has a webpage that lists everything you need to include in your submission to apply for the one year patent. Also if you test market and sell your invention during that period, it better helps you to determine whether or not to go on to obtain a more long term patent. If you choose not to, you simply allow the term of the one year patent to lapse and you have no further costs on a patent. If you do however apply for a longer term patent, you would then need an attorney and some investment to obtain one.

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/provapp.htm

The National Inventor Fraud Center, Inc. (Educating Inventors Since 1998)

If you are inventor wanting to find a company to help you get your invention marketed, don't proceed with finding a company to assist you, until you've visted this website. This corporation, educates inventors on the subject of "inventor fraud" that the scam invention companies are committing. Many inventors have been swindeled out of fees by invention submission companies who prey on the dreams of people who put their faith and hopes behind their product ideas. Check out this site before obtaining the services of an invention company, so that you are not victimized by one of the dishonest ones!

http://www.inventorfraud.com/

The Lone Inventor Website (Information Resource & Forum)

Here's the link to a website, where inventors can get together and communicate about ideas and share their experiences in working with their inventions. This website has lots of great information for inventors posted on it, plus a forum that allows the exchange of information. This website is one of the best inventor-resources on the web.

http://www.loneinventor.com/