By Abigail Baldwin × Vaughn Lowery
Obtaining a patent is a long process. Inventors have to file complex legal documents which can get very expensive. A patent is a license from the US government and gives you exclusive rights to an invention. It grants the inventor the power to eliminate others from creating, using, or making money from an invention. They are difficult to obtain by yourself. You need a patent attorney which is costly. Any mistake can set you back months or years, but fame and wealth follow those who invent and leverage the patent system.
For many small businesses and entrepreneurs, obtaining a patent can be an uphill battle. Not having access to tools, lawyers and information can leave the inventor in the dark. Inaction can be fatal to inventors in our current first-to-file regime, which is a race to file the patent application as fast as possible. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has streamlined services and their website for easy navigation. Still, it can be extremely difficult to understand the legal jargon and their patent search engine can appear dated. Subsequently, the USPTO has established an Inventor Assistance platform which can aid an inventor. Still, the road to a patent can be long and windy for the uninitiated.
Nonprofits like Inventiv.org offer gratis software, tips on how to properly file, as well as how to protect your inventions. All the aforementioned are conducive for cutting-edge startups and entrepreneurs who are in dire need of resources to get their invention in the marketplace before it’s patented by someone else. With access to volunteers and law firms such as http://www.tranassoc.com and htpp://www.patentoffice.io and the free software at Inventiv.org, the cost of filing patents becomes more easily manageable, democratizing the intellectual property system for all.
“I used an early version of the free provisional filing software from inventiv.org to create my draft application and filed it to get an early priority date for my start-up JobTree, a mobile recruiting platform focusing on new grads by providing better match between students and employers. Afterward, I looked for legal help in converting the provisional application to a utility application and the Patent Office. The patent law firm of www.patentoffice.io has been instrumental in working with our startup to provide a complete patent and trademark protection strategy. The process is simple and cost-effective compared to the traditional process of handing everything to a patent lawyer.” says John Huynh, a beta user of Inventiv.org. Mary Kimani, another beta user and a product manager at www.Plant-Grow.com noted that “The early version software I tested from www.Inventiv.org helped our company file 3 provisional patent applications which protect our innovation for a year until the utility conversion. The whole process is easy and the software was free. I recommend it.”
About Inventiv.org
Inventiv.org uses a unique software that integrates patent search engines and guides you through each section of the application process. Inventiv.org also has educational resources that will stay with you forever. The software for patent application drafting will be available later this month and it’s completely free to use.
About Patent Law Office
PatentOffice.io is a patent law firm that specializes in patent filing and prosecution and is an active contributor to Inventiv.org. The firm says “We are glad to support innovative start-ups and individuals and to make the patent system available to everyone.”
About Tran & Associates
Tran & Associates (www.tranassoc.com) is a boutique law firm that specializes in helping companies navigate through the maze of the patenting process. “We laud the work of Inventiv.org in helping individuals who invent to benefit from our great patent system.”
