Got a Great Idea? Maybe you should patent it!

Rural Iowa is full of creative people. In fact, a recent analysis by the Smithsonian Institution showed Guthrie County, Iowa to be a leading hub of innovation. On a ranking of patents per capita, comparing all counties in the United States, Guthrie County ranks #4! (Clemens, Austin. “Inventing America.” Smithsonian June 2018: 18. Print.)

A patent is essentially a contract with the government: in exchange for disclosing your Great Idea, you get a 20-year monopoly to control its use and sale.

The process of obtaining a patent is complex. It is not simply a matter of filling out a form. The applicant must prove that the invention meets legal standards for novelty, utility, and non-obviousness. The application must fully describe the invention and enable another to practice it. While the initial application cannot be modified, claim scope is often negotiated with the patent office during the prosecution phase, which will likely last two years or more.

Although some inventors file patent applications on their own behalf, most turn to a registered patent practitioner for assistance. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) maintains a searchable list of active patent practitioners who have passed the USPTO's registration exam and meet the qualifications to represent patent applicants before the USPTO.  

Karen Varley has been a registered patent practitioner since 2000 and has successfully prosecuted numerous patents in the U.S. and in many foreign countries. Contact our office if you have interest in pursuing a patent on your Great Idea!