Domestic violence was a part of my family's life for years. When I made the decision to leave with my children, I had to rely on the law to provide the protection we needed. Sometimes, the system does not work as fast as we want. I soon learned that going at it alone without any guidance caused significant delays. I created this blog to help others who are seeking legal means to deal with an abusive ex. By making the right moves, it is possible to get the necessary protections in place so that you can also live a happier and healthier life.
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If you have an invention, you surely want to protect it. Assuming that you have already decided to file for a patent, your next step is to decide on which type of patent you want to pursue. Here are the types of patents available through the United States government and the reasons to file for them:
Design Patents
Design Patents are meant to protect the appearance of an item. The appearance may relate to the pattern on the item, the actual shape of the item, or another design aspect of the item that isn't defined by its function. Typically, a design patent has a narrow scope. This can be advantageous when pursuing a patent in a very saturated field, as more general patents are less likely to be approved. This can be useful, for example, in preventing manufacturers or competitors from using your exact mold in their own products.
Utility Patents
A utility patent protects the actual function or structure of the article itself. This can include the machine, process, manufacturing, and composition of the item's physical matter. A utility patent is often broad in scope and covers the concept of the invention, not simply the original physical form. Utility patents are considered easier to protect than design patents, and are therefore worth pursuing for a truly unique idea.
Provisional Patent Application
A provisional patent application will have less legal requirements than a utility patent. It will also cost less. However, the tradeoff is that it does get examined and does not count as a full patent. Rather, it allows the inventor one year of leeway to file a utility patent. Within that year, you can make the choice of whether or not a patent is worth pursuing. This means that you can use it to test the desire in the market for your product or idea. If it seems profitable from the start, you might opt to skip the provisional patent and go straight for a utility patent. Note that a provisional patent cannot assist you with securing a design patent, as it falls under different rules than a utility patent.
These are the basic types of patents available to you as an inventor. If you have a great idea, your first step is to decide which kind of patent you would like to file. Design, utility, and provisional patents all have their advantages and can assist you in protecting your invention. After understanding these basics, consult a patent lawyer (such as one from Lingbeck Law Office) to ensure that you set yourself up for success.
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