Thank you so much! This was very helpful. DIY "provisional patent application" feels like a good insurance. If there's something of worth, you file an year later. If you get no customers, the idea was dead anyways and I assume you can avoid filing. Is that correct ?
A patent is not meaningful as protection unless you also have the wherewithal to go through the legal process. Your idea of what is not only patentable, but also defendable in a court against a better funded opposition may not be realistic.
(But a patent application could help you as a form marketing.)
Yes BUT… suppose you file a provisional patent, and do a slight pivot/change in how you do things. Then the provisional patent might not apply, or might be too restrictive. This is where a lawyer can help. Still, this is a strategy that lawyers understand, and it can still be a quick and cheap way to cover your ass. And you can say “Patent Pending”.
Do you know if there are startups that specialize in helping startups go through this ? I got one reference below that I am going to look into more. If your reference can be shared, pls do
Comments
Thank you so much! This was very helpful. DIY "provisional patent application" feels like a good insurance. If there's something of worth, you file an year later. If you get no customers, the idea was dead anyways and I assume you can avoid filing. Is that correct ?
A patent is not meaningful as protection unless you also have the wherewithal to go through the legal process. Your idea of what is not only patentable, but also defendable in a court against a better funded opposition may not be realistic.
(But a patent application could help you as a form marketing.)
Yes BUT… suppose you file a provisional patent, and do a slight pivot/change in how you do things. Then the provisional patent might not apply, or might be too restrictive. This is where a lawyer can help. Still, this is a strategy that lawyers understand, and it can still be a quick and cheap way to cover your ass. And you can say “Patent Pending”.
Do you know if there are startups that specialize in helping startups go through this ? I got one reference below that I am going to look into more. If your reference can be shared, pls do
I'm just paying a lawyer out of pocket that came recommended through a trusted contact.