Patent Reform Bill - Major Changes
First to File becomes the rule.
I always enjoy teaching the "So You've Got A Great Idea" class, and get to meet with very smart people and see their wonderful inventions. I particularly enjoy helping them move their idea forward on the path to a profitable product.
That path is a new one for many, as of the 16th of September. It will be the first person to file for a patent that will have the right to patent a product, not the first to invent. The first-to-file system will take effect 18 months from now.
What that means is if you have an invention, and you think it is patentable, don't wait. Get at least a provisional patent filed as quickly as you can. If someone steals it and files first, you may be out of luck.
One good aspect of the 'reform' is a reduction in the Patent Office fees for the small entity. Check out uspto.gov for the current fee schedule.
Note that many products are not patentable - and you can still protect your idea through copyright, trademark, trade secret and other means. As importantly, you should be thinking of getting it into the market as quickly as you can.
Posted By: bizshop on september 28, 2011 06:50am
First Class All The Way
I'm scheduled to teach in DC at First Class beginning on the 23rd - and I thought it would be my last time there. DC is one of my favorite cities, and First Class has been a regular since 1994. Deb scheduled me as a last hurrah - but today I got an email that they would be continuing in rented spaces. Good news if they can pull it off, I'll be returning to DC....
Check them out at Takeaclass.org
Posted By: on august 02, 2011 06:54am
New server
The culmination of many hours of work, BizShop and all the client sites are now up and running on an upgraded server. I also have reworked my own BizShop site design.
Please leave a comment if you see anything that is not working right.
Posted By: bizshop on july 30, 2011 06:14pm
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