Tag: Patent Basics
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What Is a Patent and Why Should You Care?
Let’s get straight to the point. A patent is not just a piece of paper. It’s power. It’s the kind of power that lets an idea go from something you scribble on a napkin to something the world pays you for—over and over. A patent gives your idea a legal body. Without it, others can…
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Utility vs. Design Patents: What’s the Real Difference?
If you’re building something new—an invention, a product, or even just a new look for a product—you’ve probably come across the terms “utility patent” and “design patent.” These two types of patents can protect your ideas in very different ways. But the real question is: which one do you actually need? Or do you need…
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Can You Patent an Idea Without a Prototype?
You’ve got a big idea. Maybe it hit you in the shower. Maybe it’s a sketch on a napkin. Or maybe it’s something you’ve been tinkering with for months. But one thing’s for sure—you don’t have a prototype yet. And now you’re wondering, can you still get a patent? Why You Don’t Need a Prototype…
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How Patents Really Work: A Beginner’s Deep Dive
If you’re building something new—something smart, maybe even game-changing—someone’s probably told you, “You should patent that.” You nod. You Google. And suddenly you’re drowning in confusing words, weird forms, and ten different kinds of legal advice. What a Patent Actually Is It’s a Business Tool Disguised as a Legal Document Let’s think beyond paperwork. A…
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Patent vs. Copyright vs. Trademark: Which One Do You Need?
You’ve built something. Maybe it’s a new product. Maybe it’s software. Maybe it’s a brand people are starting to notice. Whatever it is, it’s yours—and it’s valuable. And now you’re wondering: how do I protect it? You’ve probably heard of patents. You’ve probably also heard of copyrights and trademarks. But if you’re like most founders…
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Do You Actually Own Your Invention Without a Patent?
You just built something new. It could be a software feature, a machine learning model, a bit of clever code, or even a physical product. You know it’s valuable. You spent nights, weekends, and a hundred cups of coffee building it. So the question hits: do you actually own it? What “Ownership” Actually Means Without…
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The 3 Core Requirements to Get a Patent (Explained Simply)
You’re building something new. Maybe it’s software, a piece of hardware, a clever AI model, or a unique way to solve a problem no one else has cracked. You’re going fast. You’re testing things. You’re shipping. But in the back of your mind, there’s this question: Should I be protecting what I’m building? Your Invention…
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What Can Be Patented—and What Absolutely Can’t
If you’ve ever built something new—coded it, wired it, modeled it, trained it—you’ve probably wondered: can I patent this? That’s a smart question to ask. Because if your idea is valuable and unique, you don’t want someone else copying it. But patents can feel confusing, right? The rules sound fuzzy. The system feels slow. And…
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Is Your Idea Patentable? 7 Tests to Check Before You File
A lot of founders skip this step. They assume every cool invention or smart feature can be patented. But that’s not how it works. The patent office has rules. Clear ones. And if you don’t check your idea against those rules early, you could waste time, money, and your shot at protection. Is It Something…
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Understanding Patent Claims Without Losing Your Mind
You’ve probably heard it before. “Get a patent to protect your invention.” Easy to say. But when you dive into the actual patent document, your eyes start to blur. What are these “claims”? Why do they sound like a robot wrote them? And how are you supposed to understand any of it—let alone write one?…