Triple Play 3 ways to prepare for patenting, defending your inventions

Jeffrey Weinick is a registered patent attorney and co-chair of the intellectual property group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi P.C. in West Orange.

Jeffrey Weinick is a registered patent attorney and co-chair of the intellectual property group at Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi P.C. in West Orange.

We asked Jeffrey what technology companies should do to prepare their inventions for the United States patenting process and to defend them against competitors.

Start early

Too many companies start the process on the eve of a new product release, which could jeopardize patent protection. The best time to contact your patent attorney is when your invention can be described in detail sufficient enough to allow others to make it.

Be mindful of costs and timelines

Securing a patent for an invention often takes two to five years, and costs between $15,000 and $25,000 when accounting for search, patent application and prosecution fees. In addition, thousands of dollars in maintenance fees will be required to keep the patent in force.

Take precautions against competitors

The arduous process of securing a patent generally yields the owner exclusive rights to practice the patented invention for 20 years after the filing date, so it’s imperative that patents be enforced. If you think a competitor has copied your technology, work with an attorney to determine whether the patent has actually been infringed and, assuming it has, decide which strategy should be used to initiate enforcement.