Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Protection begins with you—the inventor or entrepreneur. Your first step is to describe your concept as completely and accurately as you can in your own handwriting in a permanently bound note book. Sign and date each page of entry. Draw a line through any blank pages or areas on a page; date the line and sign the page as if it were filled with entries. Ask a witness who can understand your concept to read, sign, date and attest to their understanding on each page. An additional witness may also sign and date each page for added protection if so desired.

Drawings, sketches and printouts may be fastened permanently to pages in your notebook. Sign and date each such affixed item and have all such pages witnessed just like your handwritten pages. These primary records will form the basis for your patent application. They will also be vital in asserting your legal rights in the event of any later legal proceeding. Keep your notebook in a secure place. We do not recommend keeping your primary data only on computer(s) or other electronic memory device(s) unless competent legal counsel advises you otherwise. Always print out such information and affix it SECURELY to pages in your bound notebook as above. The above is not intended to be legal advice; it is simply a procedure we have used over the years.

Registry of Intellectual Property + Patents

Disclosure Document Program — US PTO. "A service provided by the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is the acceptance and preservation for two years of "Disclosure Documents" as evidence of the date of conception of an invention.
Inventor's Log book — http://TENonline.org. Where your legal protection begins.
Patentcafe/firstuse — Any Gibbs. A private alternative.
Intellectual Property — IP Australia. Patents, Trademarks, Designs.
Anatomy of a Patent — U. S. PTO Site. Describes the elements of a patent.
How to get a Patent — Patent and Trademark Office.
Patent Glossary — LawNotes TM. Site for researching the meanings of terms in Intellectual-Property  Law.
Patent Help — InventNET. Victor Lavrov's site. Resources for the beginner, intermediate and advanced practitioners of the creative arts of invention.
Patent Information Service —David Kiewit, Registered Patent Agent. " Patent-faq a FAQ on ideas, inventions and patents."
Patent It Yourself — David Pressman. A good place to order David Pressman's classic and best selling do-it-yourself book on patents.
Patent Services — George Morgan, Registered Patent Agent. "Specializing in new product protection, development and marketing. A Full range of patenting services for inventors."
Protecting Inventions Internationally — Ladas and Perry. A must visit for those considering world coverage. Discusses the Paris Convention or Patent Cooperation Treaty, PCT. For an overview, see also: Patent Cooperation Treaty — Brown, Pinnisi & Michaels.

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