What is the process for obtaining a patent?
The process of obtaining a patent, which is called “patent prosecution,” begins with the submission of a patent application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). For someone unfamiliar with the application process, applying for a patent can be a difficult and cumbersome procedure. To be complete, the application must contain a specification of the invention, which includes a written description of the invention, at least one claim, and any drawings necessary to understand the invention. Although the other two sections are important, the claims section is vital. This section is where an inventor claims exactly what he/she has invented. If an applicant does not have experience drafting claims, he/she may not receive the broadest protection possible for the invention. As a result, future inventors may create inventions that are essentially the same invention as yours, but because the claims were poorly drafted in your patent application you may have no recourse again
