Milwaukee Patent Attorneys & Lawyers

What Is Patent Drawing Software?

Patent drawing software is a type of computer program that allows the user to easily create diagrams, flowcharts, engineering schematics, and computer-aided drafts. Inventors can then use these to illustrate their patent applications for presentation to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Also, the software can help to create 3D renderings and virtual prototypes to capture the attention of potential partner companies and licensees.

To adequately illustrate the scope of the invention, patent drawing software shows aspects such:

• The particular components of the invention and how they fit together
• The internal wo

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What Is Patentable Subject Matter?

Patentable subject matter, also known as patent eligibility, refers to an invention that meets the standards set forth by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to receive patent protection. Statutory law, per §35 U.S.C. 101, defines patentable subject matter in the following way: "Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title."

To qualify as patentable subject matter, an invention has to satisfy two criteria: one statutory, one judicial. First, as §35 U.S.C. 101 requires, the subject matter of the invention must fall into the category of process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter. Second, that

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How Do You Patent a Name?

You may be interested in learning how to patent a name in addition to how to patent an idea, however, you cannot patent a name. Instead, you can trademark it by filing an application online at www.uspto.gov. It takes about 90 minutes, costs range between $275 and $325, and you will need to check the Trademark Electronic Search System to make sure the name is not already taken.

There are certain professions or businesses where the name of the owner becomes the identity of the brand. The business services provided by actors, professional athletes, performers, fashion designers etc. are identified almost exclusively by their names. In this sense, it is important for people in such professions to make sure that their names are protected.

Compared to registering a word, getting a trademark for a name is difficult. You need to prov

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What Are Patent Drawings?

Patent drawings are a set of illustrations showing the precisely detailed features of an invention submitted during the patent application process. The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) requires that every patent application is submitted with at least one patent drawing of the proposed invention when an illustration is necessary to fully understand the invention. Patient drawings have changed over the years, but the USPTO has strict drawing rules that inventors must follow. The official record includes patent illustrations that aprinted and published in a uniform style on flexible white paper.

Why Do You Need to Know About Patent Drawings?

For inventors, drafting a patent

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How long does a patent pending last? This phase of the patent process can last from one to three years, or longer depending on the complexity of your invention. Software or electronics applications are often patent pending for five years or more. This period starts when you submit either a provisional or non-provisional patent application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It ends when they grant or deny you a patent. The application backlog at the USPTO and the complexity of your application also affect how long your patent is pending.

How to Get a Patent Pending

The cheapest way to get a patent pending is to file a provisional patent application (PPA). Congress set up this option to help inventors. The cost of a PPA ranges from $65 for micro-entities, to $139 for small entities, and up to $260 for large entities. The PPA does not put your application in front of an examiner. It's a placeholder that gives you one

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