How Do You File A Software Patent?
A patent is a grant from the government that gives an inventor exclusive rights to benefit from an invention for a limited time. A software patent is a patent on any performance of a computer realized through the means of a computer program. Patent laws are one of the ways the United States protects people’s intellectual property. Unlike copyrights and trademarks, patents are not automatic under common law and thus must be applied for through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Make sure that the software is original and useful to the public. For a patent to be approved, it must be new, not obvious and useful. The usefulness of the software is determined by the benefit it provides to the public. Check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site (see Resources) for similar inventions that have already been given patent status, as a helpful resource and to prevent duplicating a product. Develop a full written description of your unique software and amenities. This is a very
