Chapter 14. Patent Searching, Patent Applications, Duration, and Transfers

Because obtaining a utility patent depends on an invention being novel and nonobvious, conducting a search before applying for a patent is critical. A search of the prior art and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) records will disclose whether the invention is sufficiently novel and nonobvious to qualify for patent protection. Once the search has been conducted, an application for the patent is filed, disclosing the method of making and using the invention. Like the trademark process, patent prosecution involves examination by the PTO and responses by the applicant to any PTO objections until the application is finally approved or rejected. As noted in Chapter 13

Get Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Property: A Practical Guide to Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents & Trade Secrets now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.