One of the big questions you may be asking, and which is common among many entrepreneurs, inventors and businesses, small or large, is: Should I pursue a patent on my product?
However, before you can really answer that question, you should probably consider whether you have a product that can be patented. To answer that question, you should consult with a patent attorney who can conduct a patentability search and subsequently provide you with some legal advice. In many cases, a patentability search will involve a detailed dive into various patent databases in an attempt to find any existing patents or published patent applications that may describe the same or similar product.
If the results of the patentability search are favorable, and your patent attorney believes it would be worthwhile to pursue a patent, then the next step would be to consider filing a patent application. Of course, while a pending patent application can, in may instances, be beneficial to you or your company, the ultimate goal is to obtain a patent issuance in the end. For instance, in addition to potentially attracting a larger customer base, an issued or granted patent will provide you with the right to exclude others from making, using, selling or importing an infringing product into the United States for a number of years (i.e., 15 or 20 years depending on the type of patent obtained).
You can find some information on our patent search and applications services here and here.
Forbes.com also has an interesting article on this topic which can be accessed here: “The Compelling Case for Patents: Dominate Your Industry and Stand Out.”
