Is Your Invention Patentable?
There’s a strict legal definition of what is considered patentable. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, you may obtain a patent for any “new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter.” A patent means that you, and you alone, have the right to use this invention. Not everything can be patented. Otherwise, you would wrongfully get unlimited rights to something that others should have the ability to use.
There are four broad categories of inventions that can be patented:
- A combination of steps or methods
- Something that is manufactured from materials
- A machine that is a combination of parts
- A composition of matter to make a new substance
Your patent should be novel work that you have done. There are certain things that may be too obvious to be patented. The invention must be new and something that nobody has ever done before.
There are other restrictions on possible patents:
- You need to define the scope of your invention, and it cannot be unlimited
- You cannot try to patent a natural discovery
- Your invention must be something concrete that is tied to a specific idea or process
In order to even begin a patent search, your invention would need to be fully formed. Your invention would need to have crossed the line from an idea to something tangible. Not every idea is at the stage where you can seek a patent. You need to know what you are looking for to determine whether somebody has previously patented your invention. If you are having trouble searching, your idea may need more definition.
Contact an Orlando Patent Lawyer Today
Your attorney needs to have a specific experience in intellectual property in order to properly help you. Contact an Orlando patent attorney at Daniel Law Offices to discuss your matter.