Tag: Patent Basics

You’re an inventor. Maybe you’ve built something in your garage. Maybe it’s a piece of code. A hardware hack. A system that could shake up an entire industry. Whatever it is, it’s yours. And it’s valuable. But right now, it’s also vulnerable. Why Most First-Time Inventors Struggle With Patents It’s Not Your Fault. The System…

If you’ve ever tried to write a patent on your own, you know it’s like trying to explain a magic trick in slow motion, using a completely different language. You have to show how your idea works without giving everything away. You need to be specific, but also broad enough to protect your invention from…

You’ve poured your time, energy, and maybe even your sanity into building something new. A smarter algorithm. A new way to move data. A system no one else thought of. You know it’s valuable. You know it’s worth protecting. But now you’re staring down the world of patents—and suddenly, it feels like you’re stepping into…

If you’re building something new—something you think could change the game—you probably already know you should protect it. But the moment someone says the word “patent,” your brain might scream: too slow, too expensive, too confusing. Bring Your Invention to the Table Your Idea Is the Starting Line—Not the Finish Line When you sit down…

Before you file a patent, there’s one thing you absolutely must do: check if someone already came up with the same idea. That’s what prior art means. It’s anything that shows your invention already exists—or something very close to it. This includes old patents, technical papers, websites, product manuals, even YouTube videos. What Is Prior…

If you’re a founder, engineer, or inventor, getting a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent Office is a big moment. It means your patent application has been reviewed and approved. The examiner liked what you submitted. They’ve said, “Yep, this looks good. We’re ready to move forward.” What does a Notice of Allowance actually…

Getting a Final Office Action from the USPTO can feel like hitting a wall. You’ve already put in effort, answered questions, made changes, and now the examiner says it’s final. It sounds like a rejection. It sounds like a dead end. But here’s the truth: it’s not the end, and you don’t have to start…

You’ve filed a patent. You’re building something real. Now the patent examiner has questions. Maybe they’ve sent you an Office Action. Maybe your application hit a wall. This is the moment most founders freeze. But there’s a move many skip. A quiet superpower. It’s called a patent interview. What Is a Patent Interview, Really? Think…

You’ve done the hard part. You built something real. Something worth protecting. You filed your patent. That should be the moment you breathe easy, right? But now, it feels like everything has slowed to a crawl. The Truth About Patent Timelines The Clock Starts the Moment You File When you file your patent, you’re technically…

You’re building fast. You’ve got traction. Maybe you’re even talking to investors or landing your first big customer. The last thing you want is your patent stuck in slow motion. But that’s exactly what happens to most startups. They file a patent the traditional way—and wait. And wait. And wait. Years go by. Nothing moves.…