Patent Essentials
From a former USPTO official: Why a patent search matters, and how to do it right
Patent Search
Patent Search Options
If you do your own patent search without much experience, you probably will not find the prior art the patent examiner will find during searching. This will result in the rejection of your patent application if you file it on your own.
Utility Patent Options, Alternatives
Many of the patent rules are subtle and cause amateurs (including me) to lose a large chunk of the patent’s strength and value if we prepare a patent on our own.
Designing for a Patent
Heed these 5 main principles, with your prospective licensee’s preferences also in mind. A negative patent search—that is, finding nothing like your invention—is not reliable.