A patent is an item that allows an intangible idea to have a tangible, transferrable value. The founding fathers of the United States of America (USA) thought so highly of the value of patents that they are a constitutionally granted right. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is in charge of issuing patents to inventors in the USA. A patent issued by the USPTO gives an inventor the right to exclude others from making and using the invention in the USA for

To receive a patent on an invention, your invention needs to be new, useful, and non-obvious. Did you know that even though your brilliant idea meets these criteria and might otherwise be patentable that your own actions could prevent it from receiving a patent? Here are three actions to avoid. Putting your invention out in the public before you’ve submitted an application will bar you from getting a patent outside the United States. You could still apply for a patent in