Essex Bookkeepers on How to Patent an Invention

RAINHAM, U.K. - Oct. 8, 2016 - PRLog -- The way to protect an invention could be design rights or binding non-disclosure agreements. On the other hand, a patent may be the best course of action.

Essex bookkeepers Office Assistants say that anyone choosing the patent route should get started sooner rather than later because it can be a long, drawn-out process. "You would be wise to take on a patent agent so that you won't make any mistakes in this process, which would be time-consuming and even more expensive than the average spend of around £5000 on an application," they suggest.

"Initially, you must acquire an application form from the patent office, to be submitted with your full name and address, and a description of the product you wish to patent. Then you will have up to 12 months from the filing date of your application in which it will remain valid and you can continue. While this may seem a long time, you may need it for fine tuning and making manufacturing arrangements; even setting up the funding you need can take a while.

"Your application can only go through to the next stage if you pay the search fee and file claims that properly define your invention. At this stage, a Patent Officer will search for anything similar that might be available to ascertain whether it is truly unique. The product must also be something that is new, useful and non-obvious. After that you can publish your application and all the technical details of the product.

"The Patent Office then conducts a full examination with the benefit of the results of the search. If everything is satisfactory, you will be granted your patent. It might be four to five years from your initial application."

Office Assistants explains that patents are granted in this country for a limited number of years, provided the required regular payments are made to maintain it. It will make it illegal during that time for anyone else to make, sell or import the product, or copies of it. If anyone infringes the patent, patent holders can bring a civil law suit against them, get an injunction to stop them, and claim compensation.

However says Office Assistants, "What your patent will not do is make money from the product. If the invention won't do that for you there is little point in patenting it. If you want to talk this through with someone independent who won't give away your intellectual property secrets, why not discuss it in the first instance with your local bookkeepers. Sometimes a listening ear is all that is needed, or they may be able to recommend someone who will help."

Office Assistants offers bookkeeping services and much more to clients throughout the south east of England from their base in Rainham, Essex. For more information visit http://www.officeassistants.org.