How to select a patent attorney
Could you use a little help protecting your invention? If so, an experienced patent law attorney is your best option.
As you can imagine, passing on your invention to someone who knows nothing about it will be difficult. Therefore, it is best if you are in direct contact with your patent attorney. You can meet in person and show the patent attorney any prototypes or drawings you may have to help illustrate your invention. As you can probably guess, the process will be easier if you work with a patent attorney near you. Although it can be done, a long distance relationship will only strain the process.
Probably the best way to select a patent attorney in your city is through word of mouth. To help find references (and associate with others who have similar interests to yours), you can join a local inventors club. You can also search the USPTO’s list of registered patent attorneys or simply use their database to check the credentials of your potential patent attorney.
When searching for a suitable patent attorney, you should ask about their experience and background. Ask them what degrees they have, the number of years they have spent writing and filing patents, and the number of patents granted. Get references from previous clients and call them to ask about their experience with the patent attorney.
When selecting a patent attorney, it is also important to find someone who specializes in the field related to your invention. Patent attorneys are not the same in all areas. To start with, what is your degree(s) in? This is very important. Some patent attorneys will have an engineering degree. Other patent attorneys will be experts in the field of biology, others in physics, and others in computer science. You don’t want to take your newly invented cell line (yes, you can patent such things) to a patent attorney with a background in electrical engineering. You would like a patent attorney with experience in biology to help you with this type of invention.
If you have a basic invention, going to a patent attorney with a background in general mechanical engineering will likely save you some money. Specialized professionals usually charge more.
You want your background and your type of invention to match as closely as possible. Writing patent applications is a bit of an art. Obviously, a patent attorney will be helpful in helping you with the legal jargon, but there is also a great deal of knowledge and specific technical details that need to go along with it. This is why patent attorneys must have a technical background.
PatentLawPortal.com maintains a growing directory of patent attorneys listed by state and, in some cases, by city. There are many other patent-related resources that you may find useful on the site as well. Visit http://www.PatentLawPortal.com for more information.
