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Patent It Yourself
© Money Magic, Inc. 12/15/01
Saturday Daybreak KATV, Chn. 7
Mary Ann Campbell, CFP

Patent It Yourself
0-87337-563-7
By David Pressman
Nolo Press
$49.95
www.nolo.com

“Say goodbye to missed invention opportunities and save money in the process”
A patent gives its holder the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the invention “claimed” in the patent deed for approximately 17-18 years, provided certain fees are paid. A patent is a form of personal property and can be sold outright for a lump sum, or its owner can give anyone permission to use the invention covered (license it) in return for royalty payments.
This book is considered as a great equalizer because it provides the know-how to enable the garage-shop or basement do-it-yourselfer to get as good a patent as a large corporation. It especially gives the small inventor the tools to competently and efficiently protect an invention. By following instructions in the book, you’ll not only save healthy attorney fees, but you’ll be personally involved with every step of the patenting process.

It’s almost a universal misconception that one must use a patent attorney to get a valid patent. The quality of a patent is mainly dependent upon three basic factors. Fortunately, it takes no special legal expertise to do an excellent job for these factors.

  1. whether the patent application contains a full, clear and accurate description that tells how to make and use the invention,
  2. whether the reach of the patent is as broad as possible, given the state of prior developments in the field, and
  3. whether the application "sells" the advantages of the invention.

David Pressman has over 40 years of experience as a patent attorney, a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent Office and a university instructor. This is his bible for inventors.

You can cut through the patent red tape and save a lot of money. You can use the book to monitor and enhance the attorney’s work. If you’re willing to do a lot of the work yourself, you can consult with an attorney on an hourly rate if snags develop, or to check the patent application before submission. Pressman thoroughly explains the patent process and has all the forms and instructions needed.

Utility Patents covers inventions that function in a unique manner to produce a utilitarian result, such as Velcro, new drugs, and software. Design Patents covers the unique, ornamental, or truly unique visible shape or design of a non-natural object. This eighth edition of Patent It Yourself includes changes resulting from the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999. It lists an expanded section on online patent searching services and lists all the best, new websites for inventors. Inc. Magazine says “The best roll-up-your-sleeves guide for filers who don’t want to pay a ransom.”