In this article, we will discuss how to obtain a general patent, as there are actually different types of patents that can be obtained.

If you are an inventor and think you have come up with some device that will be in everyone’s house for years to come, you may want to think about getting a patent for this amazing invention; otherwise, you might find that it’s stolen right under your nose.

It is very common to confuse patents with copyrights and trademarks. Basically, a patent gives the inventor the trademark rights to his invention. The words of the actual patent grant are as follows: “the inventor is given the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale or selling the invention in the issuing country or importing the invention into that country.” In other words, the inventor has full control over his invention.

There are 3 types of patents that an inventor can obtain. The first is a utility patent, which is granted to anyone who invents or discovers a new process or machine. This includes any manufactured item that is an improvement over a similar item. The second is a design patent, which is granted to anyone who invents a new design for a manufactured item. The third patent is called a plant patent, which is granted to anyone who invents a new type of plant.

To obtain a patent for any of the above categories, the inventor must file a patent application. Typically, due to the sensitive nature of patent infringement, these inventors will retain an attorney to assist them in the process of obtaining their patent. These are lawyers specializing in patent law and who know all the idiosyncrasies of the business. If you are an inventor hiring an attorney for this service, expect to pay a very high fee due to the specialty of their service.

If you are looking to save some money, you can try going through the process of getting a patent on your own. The system itself requires patent examiners to be available to help any inventor who is not using a lawyer. If you are going through this process without an attorney, be sure to take detailed notes of your invention. This is necessary to verify that the invention is truly new and original and not an infringement of someone else’s patent.

Be sure to read the application questions very carefully to ensure your invention qualifies as an original work; otherwise, you can lose a lot of time and money in the process. Even without using an attorney, filing fees can be as high as $2000. In some cases, you may also have to build a prototype of your invention and give the patent examiner a demonstration of how it works.

To make sure your invention is truly original, you’ll need to research all current patents. You can do this online or at the Brand Depository Library.

Also remember that applying for a patent is a business decision. Even if the item is original, you still want to make sure there’s a market for it before you go through the whole process only to find that no one has any interest in what you’ve invented.