A patent lawyer at Larson & Larson, P.A. may be able to help you protect your inventions and ideas from theft or plagiarism. The patent process takes time even in the best-case scenario, which is why it is important to file your application carefully. Avoiding mistakes from the beginning will help prevent any further delays. An experienced attorney in Tampa Bay will strive to maximize the breadth of your patent, saving you from the potential pitfalls that often result when a patent does not cover all the aspects that your invention will require for the long-term.
Types of Patents
A patent gives you exclusive rights to make, use, and sell your invention for a set period of time. A patent lawyer at Larson & Larson, P.A. can help you with the following types of registration:
- Utility — Protection for the functionality of your invention (how it works).
- Design — Protection for the look or the overall appearance of your product.
- Plant — Protection for a new and distinct plant, which is either invented or discovered.
- Foreign — Protection for your inventions abroad.
Can I File My Own Patent Application?
The short answer is yes. You can file your own patent application, but the difference between doing it yourself and having an experienced attorney file for you lies in the expertise attained with long-term experience. Years of practice in dealing with applications has shown us the tricks of using efficient wording and the nuances of the law. Dealing with a large variety of cases in Tampa Bay taught us what it takes to achieve the broadest protection for your invention.
Overview of the Patent Filing Process
With the help of a patent lawyer in Tampa Bay, you can expect the registration process to take more than a year, from filing the application to receiving the registration. The process includes:
- Preparing a patent application. Your submission will detail your invention in a way that convinces the officer that your idea deserves a patent.
- Filing your application. Once you submit your application, it will go into a queue at the USPTO. Here, it must wait until it is picked up by an examiner. This stage can take well over 18 months, depending on how long the wait time is.
- Waiting for publication. Once your innovation has sat in the queue for 18 months, it is published regardless of whether an examiner has reviewed it or not. There are a few exceptions when it may not go public, but this is uncommon. Your invention will be considered after publication if it has not been reviewed yet.
- Negotiating. After your submission is reviewed by an examiner, a negotiation between your attorney and the examiner will begin. During this process, the examiner will try to narrow the scope of your application while your attorney will push for the broadest invention that they can claim on your behalf.
How a Patent Lawyer Can Help You
There are many ways that a patent lawyer can assist you with your venture in Tampa Bay:
Writing
Writing the application is the most important aspect of the filing process. It is vital that your attorney fully understands your idea and what your long-term goals are. The USPTO will file the description of your invention in a written format. The way you describe your concept and the quality of the written matter will impact the strength of your application. The attorneys at Larson & Larson, P.A. in Tampa Bay know how to explain your idea in ways that are acceptable to the examiner.
Negotiating
The negotiation between your attorney and the examiner is another critical aspect where you can benefit from the services of a patent lawyer. During the negotiation, the examiner will try to narrow the scope of your application, and having an experienced attorney gives you the benefit of getting as broad of an invention as possible.
Call Your Patent Lawyer at Larson & Larson, P.A. in Tampa Bay
Obtaining legal rights takes time. If you have an original idea that you believe is worthy of a patent, do not delay — call Larson & Larson, P.A. today at 727-546-0660. A patent lawyer in Tampa Bay can answer all your questions and help you get the process started.