When you have a revolutionary new idea, you want to find a way to turn it into money. The safest way to do that is to get a patent. But how do you know if your idea is patentable? The answer is to do a patent search.
Patent searches using an attorney can cost hundreds of dollars. You probably don't want to waste that money, if it is obvious that your invention isn't really new. You quick solution is to do a free patent search.
Here are some reasons to do a free patent search:
1. Your purpose is to confirm that there are no competitive patents similar to your idea It is nice to find out before you spend your money.
2. Free patent searching is easy on the Internet. The big free and easy patent search is courtesy of Google. They have a separate search facility just for patents.
3. There are also other free resources on the Internet that can be exploited.
4. What if the bad news is that there is another invention very similar to yours that you have found in your search. All is not lost. You can often make modifications that differentiate your idea from the ideas found in your quick patent search.
Does this mean that you should rely on a free patent search only? No. When your idea has passed the preliminary free checks, you should then consult a good patent attorney. A more thorough search by an experienced patent searcher may be necessary to verify that there is no "prior art" that invalidates your idea.
Patent searches using an attorney can cost hundreds of dollars. You probably don't want to waste that money, if it is obvious that your invention isn't really new. You quick solution is to do a free patent search.
Here are some reasons to do a free patent search:
1. Your purpose is to confirm that there are no competitive patents similar to your idea It is nice to find out before you spend your money.
2. Free patent searching is easy on the Internet. The big free and easy patent search is courtesy of Google. They have a separate search facility just for patents.
3. There are also other free resources on the Internet that can be exploited.
4. What if the bad news is that there is another invention very similar to yours that you have found in your search. All is not lost. You can often make modifications that differentiate your idea from the ideas found in your quick patent search.
Does this mean that you should rely on a free patent search only? No. When your idea has passed the preliminary free checks, you should then consult a good patent attorney. A more thorough search by an experienced patent searcher may be necessary to verify that there is no "prior art" that invalidates your idea.
About the Author:
Dee Reavis is associated with the patent law firm Advantia Law Group. More in depth information about patent searches and patenting can be found at Free Patent Search and New Inventions Success. Click here to Submit Article.
