When you need to protect your invention using the patent process, you may enter into a discussion with a patent examiner before a patent application can be granted. The patent application undergoes an assessment by a patent examiner to check whether it is patentable. It is the patent examiner's role to make sure that only concepts that are new and not obvious are afforded patent protection. The patent examiner has a duty to ensure that applicants do not obtain invalid patents.

During the patenting process, the patent examiner will provide their comments and opinions as to their assessment of whether the invention as described in the patent application is novel and inventive. The patent examiner usually does this by first issuing a written report. This report has different terms. This report is called different things in different countries, but is also known as an office action, an examination report or a notice.

A patent document (either a patent application or a granted patent) is often seen as a complicated document which is actually difficult to understand. But as an inventor it's often important to try to work out what a patent is describing. This might be because you want to understand what a competitor is doing, or because a patent attorney has asked you for your comments. Therefore this post aims to help an inventor understand how to interpret a patent document.

When you protect an invention in a patenting process, it is normal to describe your invention in a way that a patent attorney can understand it. It is then the patent attorney's role to turn the words and inventor's description of the invention into a patent application. It is very common at the start of the patenting process to ask inventors to describe their invention. Often a patent attorney will ask the inventor to fill out a form - sometimes this is called an invention disclosure form, an invention disclosure statement, or an invention submission form etc.

WEBINAR: Hardware Companies Protecting Software - a Fireside chat

WEBINAR: Hardware Companies Protecting Software - a Fireside chat

Are you wondering how to protect your innovation from corporate giants? Concerned about the true cost of a patent?

Join us for a highly requested live Q&A session in the webinar series "Patents for Entrepreneurs," led by serial entrepreneur Ola Wassvik. This is your chance to ask experienced patent attorneys anything about IP strategy, patent costs, enforcement, and more.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), navigating the patent process can be complex and costly. However, avoiding certain common mistakes can significantly improve the chances of obtaining strong, valuable patents that align with business goals. Below, we outline the eight common pitfalls SMEs face patenting - and how you can avoid them.

When you're conducting a patent search, it may be a daunting task, and you may worry about missing relevant earlier documents (“prior art”). The novelty search process involves searching for existing inventions, narrowing down results, and refining your shortlist.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help streamline your approach.