Guide of Patent Protection

Not recommended for the faint of heart, some inventors choose to write the patent themselves. Views differ between inventors and attorneys as to whether this is a good practice. I’m just letting you know the option is out there.

There are a slew of books that can teach inventors the special legal-ese language needed when writing a patent. One of the most well known books, Patent it Yourself, is written by attorney turned author David Pressman. He’s also written other books, such as The Inventors Notebook, to help you understand the process.

Some software packages exist, such as Patent Ease, so inventors don’t have to start with a blank sheet of paper. They help inventors create a template from which to write their application.

The trick with any patent is to make it broad enough to hinder competition, but specific enough to pass through the examiner. Don’t be discouraged if your application gets rejected the first time (this happens to everyone), just revise and re-file.

Also, it’s been recommended that you don’t write a patent until you have a working prototype since many things change when the idea takes physical form.

Like I said, many people (especially attorneys) would argue that individuals shouldn’t write a patent themselves. Writing patents is like writing in a new language, and the professionals are trained to communicate in this foreign language.

Some of the best advice I’ve heard is for inventors to save time and money by writing the initial draft themselves, then take it to a agent or attorney to review. That way the inventor can save the $300 per hour cost of the attorney, at least for the writing time.

All in all, writing part of the patent yourself can be a good option for cash-strapped individuals. More recommended books.