You have an idea.

And we can provide your concept model. So, where next?

To rouse financial interest and funding it is key that you have a patent on your idea.

What is a patent?

A patent in its entirety is a form of protection for your concept or idea and grants you, the inventor, sole rights to the product.

Without a patent, your product is not commercially viable to any possible investor and therefore, getting a patent is extremely important.

 A patent may be given for an invention providing it is:

a) A new concept.

b) An inventive concept, not obvious and not already done.

c) Is commercially viable.

An invention is not ‘new’ if it has already been exposed to the public – so keep your idea to yourself!

First – search for patents

The first thing you need to do is search for already existing or similar patents. Some searches can be performed quickly using a few keywords.

However, depending on your product and the industry it fits into, you may require a more in depth manually performed search.

This can be difficult and you may want to think about hiring a professional to search for them.

The informal application for patent

This must be performed before the invention, idea or product goes into manufacture or becomes visible to the public.

The informal application gives your concept provisional protection for one year. So the clock starts ticking when you do. You need to be aware of what else you need to do and any changes you need to make to the product before patenting it.

Formal application – one year on

You now need to decide where you need your patents, UK only? USA, Europe and Asia?

Beware, there are additional costs for each area you want to sell into.

You need to make any foreign applications, the inventor must be known and a Patent Office search requested.

About three months later the British Patent Office issues a report and publishes the application including the specification.

The examination

About 2.5 years after the initial informal application, you will be required to pay an examination fee to the Patent Office. They may then receive any reports with objections in the following six months after that.

This rarely happens, but if it does, the application will need to be amended.

The grant

Three and a half years later, once any objections have been overcome, your patent will be granted.

Costs

Searches, patents, applications, grants, examinations mean that your patent acquisition can cost you between: £1,850.00 to £5,420.00.

Costs will vary depending on what you’re applying for and the complexity of your invention.

You will also have to account for your patents in foreign countries which will cost more.

Ready for prototyping

Once you have established funding, you have the rights, now you need to make it!

That’s where we come in!

Every product Si Protech have developed have gone to market, every single one.

So when it comes to quality, rapid service, reliability and cost effectiveness, we are extremely well positioned to help you.

Innovators, click here.