What is a patent? Should you get a patent? When an inventor wants to patent an invention, they typically hire a patent attorney to help them prepare and file the application. After the application is filed with the Patent and Trademark Office, a patent examiner has questions for the inventor and their patent attorney about whether they really deserve the patent. It can be difficult to get a patent issued if you can't overcome the issues that the patent examiner has. This happened to Australia inventor Connie Gerace, who created and licensed a better pool broom. Her original patent attorney told her, "I can't help you. This is a useless case." She refused to give up, and found a patent attorney named Anthony Alder who could help her.
Anthony explains that while Connie's patent application drawings were fantastic, her first patent attorney did a poor job capturing all of the invention's unique features, in particular the key features of her invention. Anthony says that his role as a patent attorney is to take an inventor's solution, and spell that out into unique features.
Anthony explains that Connie's licensor, Waterco, really wanted a granted patent to seal the licensing deal. So, it was really important that Connie's patent application was approved, and quickly. This is at odds with Anthony's typical advice to inventors, which is to go slow. We agree!
So, what's important when you're working with a patent attorney? Anthony explains any patent attorney can write a summary of an invention. What's more important is creating a story. The background is where you tell the examiner why your invention is better! Everyone loves a story. And that's what separates okay patent attorneys from good ones.
Get in touch with Anthony: www.alderip.com.au
Licensing expert Stephen Key interviews Anthony about how to tell if you have an inventor-friendly patent attorney, the importance of feeling like your patent attorney is on your side, the habits and practices of bad patent attorneys, and much more.
Do your homework! There is no substitute for hard work. As it turns out, Anthony is a fan of "One Simple Idea"!
You rock Anthony. Thank you!
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