FAQs
What is a patent?
A patent is a set of exclusive property rights issued to the inventor by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for new and useful inventions or discoveries. A patent is a set of exclusive property rights issued to the inventor by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for new and useful inventions or discoveries. These can be processes, machines, compositions of matter, or articles of manufacture. New and useful improvements are also potentially patentable.
To learn more about the reason and importance of patents, please read the Puget Patent Blog entry, The Reason for Patents.
Puget Patent is dedicated solely to acquiring patents for clients. Because our focus remains constant on patent applications, we stay current with the latest developments in patent law. Our knowledge of preparation, filing and prosecution of a patent application makes Puget Patent the perfect fit for any inventor.
Do we need to meet in person to prepare a patent application?
Do I need to live in the Pacific Northwest to be a client?
Absolutely not. Puget Patent has the unique capability of providing service to clients both in-person or entirely online, allowing for service to both local and international clients. Although the process of patenting your invention can take place remotely and with the ease of online communication, we do hope to have the opportunity to meet all our clients in-person and in many instances, we can come to you.
Is patent procurement affordable?
The cost to acquire patent protection can vary greatly, but it is not expensive to begin the process. Also, because Puget Patent is a smaller practice with a lower overhead than large firms, we can provide patent services at a much more affordable rate.
For clients strictly seeking to patent an invention, Puget Patent is an affordable option.
How long do I have to file a patent application?
If you are currently selling your invention or using it publicly, you generally only have one year to get a patent application on file. However, most inventors have questions or concerns on what constitutes a public use. For example, if you made a device and gave it to a friend to use at work but told them it was confidential – is this considered a public use and thus, officially started the “one year clock?” To get an appropriate answer tailored to your specific situation, it is best to call Puget Patent to discuss your circumstances with a qualified patent agent.
Puget Patent’s principal patent agent, Michael Gibbons, has also written an in-depth blog on this subject matter: If you're selling your invention or using it publicly, you only have one year to file!.
How long does it take to get a patent?
This is a question that every patent applicant has, but unfortunately the answer is anything but straightforward. The time necessary to get a patent depends on a variety of factors, such as the country in which the patent application has been filed. In the United States, the length of time from applying for a patent until issuance averages three years. Applications for patents in foreign countries typically take longer.
There are circumstances in which the US Patent and Trademark Office will accelerate examination. For example, if the inventor is over 65 years old, or if the application is for an invention that will enhance the quality of the environment, the goal of the USPTO is that if a patent is to issue on the invention, it will be no more than one year after filing the application. Puget Patent has procured patents for clients under such special circumstances in as few as seven months.
To get a better estimate of the time required to get a patent for your specific invention or idea, call Puget Patent today to speak to a qualified patent agent. Their knowledge and expertise with the patent process can help provide a realistic timeline to your application.
Will a competitor be able to get around my patent?
A common question is, “Once I have the patent, will a competitor be able to get around it by copying the invention with just a modest change so that they no longer infringe?" For example, if you have a patent on a table, and the patent claims recite that the table legs are joined to the surface by nails, can somebody make a table and defeat an infringement claim by joining the legs to the surface with screws?
For the answer, please read Will a competitor be able to get around my patent? from the Puget Patent blog.
Contact Puget Patent today to discuss your needs at 425-241-7688.