Coming soon · Book Profile
Patent It Yourself
A comprehensive, step-by-step guide for inventors to evaluate the patentability of their idea, prepare and file their own U.S. patent application, and ultimately protect and market their invention without a lawyer.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
For any inventor with a great idea, the path to protecting it can seem daunting and prohibitively expensive, often costing thousands in legal fees. 'Patent It Yourself' demystifies the entire process, empowering you to take control of your intellectual property. Written by experienced patent attorneys, this bestselling guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions for everything from documenting your invention and assessing its commercial potential to conducting a patent search and drafting a high-quality application. By following this proven method, you'll not only save a significant amount of money but also gain a deep understanding of your invention's legal strengths, enabling you to effectively market it, negotiate with manufacturers, and turn your creation into a valuable asset.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- An inventor, creator, or entrepreneur who has a new idea or device and wants to protect it and profit from it, but is intimidated by the perceived complexity and high cost of hiring a patent attorney.
- The problem
- The process of getting a patent is an opaque, complicated legal maze, and hiring a patent attorney costs thousands of dollars ($8,500-$15,500+), putting protection out of reach. Inventors feel overwhelmed, powerless, and fearful that their valuable idea will be stolen, that they will make a critical mistake, or that their dream of profiting from their ingenuity will die due to financial barriers.
- The plan
- Step 1: Record your invention properly to establish your rights.
- Step 2: Evaluate your invention's commercial potential and patentability.
- Step 3: Prepare and file a high-quality patent application yourself.
- Step 4: Navigate the patent office's examination process to get your patent granted.
- Step 5: Market and license your invention to achieve financial success.
- The payoff
- The inventor successfully files a strong patent, saving thousands in legal fees. · They gain control and a deep understanding of their intellectual property, empowering them to negotiate effectively. · They transform their idea into a valuable, protected asset, ready for licensing, sale, or building a business around.
See our guide
Additional reading
- Patent Engineering: A Guide to Building a Valuable Patent Portfolio · Donald S. Rimai
The author's previous book, which introduces foundational concepts like 'owning the problem' and conducting clearance searches that are referenced and built upon in this guide.
- Rembrandts in the Attic · Kevin G. Rivette and David Kline
Cited as a key reference for understanding the significant commercial and economic value that a well-structured patent portfolio can have for a company.
- Connections · James Burke
Referenced for its thesis that modern technology arises from combining previously unrelated components, which supports the book's argument about where to find patentable inventions when combining known technologies.
- Basic Drawing Techniques · Greg Albert and Rachel Wolf
Recommended by the authors for readers who need to learn fundamental drawing skills before attempting to create drawings manually with pen and ruler.
- Keys to Drawing · Bert Dodson
Suggested as a resource to develop the basic drawing abilities required for the manual methods described in the book.
- The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain · Betty Edwards
A classic book recommended to help aspiring drawers develop their observational and rendering skills, which are foundational for manual patent drawing.
- Chisum on Patents · Donald S. Chisum
A multi-volume treatise that provides a very detailed survey of United States patent law and its historical development.
- Lipscomb’s Walker on Patents · Ernest Bainbridge Lipscomb
A multi-volume treatise that serves as a valuable, detailed resource on U.S. patent law.
- Patents and the Federal Circuit · Robert L. Harmon
A work that concentrates on the development of patent law in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the most significant lower court for patent cases.
- Selected Statutes and International Agreements on Unfair Competition, Trademark, Copyright and Patent · Paul Goldstein and Edmund W. Kitch (editors)
A one-volume reference that reproduces the Patent Act and other related legislation.