The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires inventors to identify any prior art they are aware of at the time of filing. This may seem like doing the examiner’s job for them. However, strategic use of the information disclosure statement (IDS) can enhance the value of your IP assets. With the USPTO's recent fee changes taking effect on January 19, 2025, now is a great time to review these obligations and procedures.

So, you’ve come up with an idea and want to protect it. A patent is a document that grants you the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling a claimed invention in the US. That sounds good, but you don’t know where to start. Read on for a step-by-step guide through the patenting process. Develop the idea Your goal is to come up with an idea that is novel, non-obvious, and useful. Ask yourself if the idea is ready to market or needs more research and development