Patent

Can you patent your idea? The first question we typically ask is:

“Can you, without explaining anything about your product or its application, point to a feature that is new?”

“New” means that that feature has not previously been described / illustrated in any way anywhere in the world. For example, if you have developed a miner’s boot with a steel plate in the heal. Should you point to the plate, a tap dancing shoe may come to mind. If I find a tap dancing shoe with a similar plate, this feature is not “new”. Whether miners dance is not relevant. But don’t give up here. Next consider why the plate on the tap dancing shoe is not suitable in your application – the modifications required for that shoe and plate may be “new” and patentable.

First, conduct a patent search. You can do this yourself using the databases and software available on our website.

Only thereafter are you ready to start preparing a provisional patent using our provisional patent drafting and filing guide. Filing a provisional patent costs $199 through GlobalIPCo and $99 through Iptica and reserves your right to file patents worldwide for a year. You can thereafter freely disclose your invention to others, market, make and sell the product.