General Patent Questions

I’ve tried to answer many of the most common general patent questions I receive. Hopefully this helps clarify things for you. If you have additional questions or would like to speak with me directly, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

• What is a patent?
• What can I patent?
• Can I tell others about my invention before I file a patent application?
• I haven’t filed a patent application yet, what deadlines should I be aware of?
• What does it mean to be a “small entity” or a “micro entity”?
• I am interested in buying or licensing someone else’s patent, can you help me determine the value in that patent?
• What is the difference between a utility patent and a design patent?
• Can I protect my invention with both a utility patent and a design patent?
• What is a patent application publication?
• Can I patent an old product that I want to bring back to the marketplace?
• Can someone patent my invention before me?