Patent Fundamentals - and Searching

[grblack]

Most civilized countries award patent rights to inventors. Yet, technology professionals often have little or no training in patents.

One recommended way to learn about the patent system is by starting at the beginning and learn patent searching skills. A new workbook, Keyword Patent Searching Techniques, not only introduces the patent system, but also teaches advanced keyword patent searching techniques in a concise, completely original, and highly readable format.

The workbook presents a new approach to patent searching using keywords only to obtain professional-quality search results. The workbook makes a compelling case that searching for patents online with keywords and free databases (the USPTO and the EPO) is now the best way to do patentability searches.

In addition to an overview of the patent system, the workbook features four inventions using basic technologies for practice. Step-by-step search solutions are provided that show how each patent is located. For more information, see http://www.keypatent.net/.

Gerald R. Black
grblack@prodigy.net

[Niquie]

Because I have done a great deal of patent work and I can tell you that it takes a special license to practice that kind of law in the United States.

Secondly, our patent lawyers are also engineers.

Thirdly, negotiating your way around the PTO (Patent and Trademark Office) is a daunting task, even when you KNOW what you are doing.

So, a simple website is not going to do this for you. If you have an invention that you believe is unique, you would do best to contact Thomson & Thomson and ask them to do a search for you in the appropriate category. It will cost a few hundred dollars, but it is well worth the effort. If you want a patent attorney to do this for you, he or she can certainly accommodate you.

After the search is conducted, take your report to a licensed patent attorney for further evaluation.

I can go on and on about this subject, but your claims have to be set forth in a precise manner and amendment to those claims have to also follow PTO regulations. Then there is the issue of drawings. You will need a graphic artist who is well versed in this as well. Like, the margins, top, bottom, left and right -- what are the size of these margins? You cannot assume this. Doing so will only result in a rejection of your application.

Take heed people.....it is costly taking shortcuts.

[Edited by Niquie on 2nd December 2002 at 21:42]

[grblack]

I think that there may have been a misunderstanding concerning the subject matter of the workbook - Keyword Patent Searching Online.

The workbook in NO WAY teaches readers how to prepare a patent application or how to practice patent law. It is recommended that a patent attorney be consulted, as you suggest.

Most engineers and IT professionals are never introduced to the basics of patent law in school, and that is most unfortunate.

The purpose of the workbook is to introduce patent fundamentals to readers - the standards of patentability, how to read a patent, patent searching techniques, the EPO and USPTO databases, and how to conduct a preliminary patent search. These are skills that a technical professional must have - in my opinion - and are not beyond the teaching of this workbook.

--Gerald R. Black

[Niquie]

I frequently see commercials on TV urging people who think they have a grand invention to order a product that will "get your product out there." The government has shut them down, but they keep popping back up -- under different names.

It's sad that so many people fall for this false advertising. I really believe that no one can successfully prosecute a patent application but a patent attorney. It is a highly specialized field of law and requires an engineering degree as well.

[grblack]

It’s also sad that patent professionals are so reluctant to work with informed clients. And we take exception to your suggestion that there is ANY false advertising here.

The workbook (Keyword Patent Searching Online) does not teach, or pretend to teach, how to prepare or prosecute a patent application. It’s agreed that such tasks are to be performed by trained and licensed professionals.

It’s been my experience that the best clients are informed clients – and the workbook attempts to introduce basic patent concepts.

Any inventor needs to know the basics of patent searching, and that’s one reason that the EPO and USPTO have put their databases online and available to everyone at no charge.

Quite simply the workbook teaches what the title says – how to conduct patent searches online using keywords.

Enough said.

[Niquie]

I thanked you for the clarification. I then went on to talk about advertisers who are putting out a product that is nothing akin to yours.