What is considered enough due diligence when doing a prior art search?

It seems like you can never do enough due diligence regarding searching for prior art in order to know if you can patent your invention. However,...

After filing a provisional patent application, you have one year to file a regular US utility patent application and be able to claim the earlier...

What is the best way to go about finding a patent attorney and what should I look for when picking a patent attorney?

The best way to find a patent attorney is through a recommendation from someone you know and trust who actually gone through the patent process....

Is it possible to submit additional drawings to a design patent application, during the patent examination?

It may be possible to submit an additional drawing for a design patent if it doesn't add any new matter and it is directed to the same design. The...

What are the implications of the Festo rulings on Doctrine of Equivalents and patent infringement?

The ruling in Festo limits the doctrine of equivalents from recapturing subject matter that was given up in order to secure a patent. This makes it...

Why are there multiple patents issued relatively recently (Jan 2013; May 2013; Aug 2011) but none in the marketplace?

Most inventors are prospective. That is, they file patent applications now for their inventions, which may become actual products sometime in the...

What does this mean about provisional applications?

Inventors file a provisional patent application only after they have conceived the invention and have reduced it to practice. Of course, most...

What do i need to file the BEST PROVISIONAL PATENT POSSIBLE? Specific points (not generic advice) is GREATLY appreciated

In order to file the best US provisional patent application possible, you need to file an application that has an adequate written description of...

Do I need to contact the manufacturer to use their product for my invention?

Probably not. Once patented product has been sold through an authorized sale, the first sale doctrine limits or exhausts the exclusive rights of...

How to determine if your invention will infringe on another persons patent? Example below: blind spot camera on car

US 20130135089 A1 is a patent publication and is currently undergoing prosecution in the US Patent Office. This application has also received a...