Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
I'm trying to do a search for any patents (current & expired) on a type of product, but tried this route and got lost.
Patent Search
[firstgov.gov...]
US Patent Office
[uspto.gov...]
is there a better way? maybe an idiots tutrial? Do I just need to bite the bullet and pay a lawyer?
Honestly, I don't know of any better ways to go about it other than searching for what you are looking for, and then digging through the pile of results they give back.
Perhaps a search on Google or WiseNut or FAST will reveal a tutorial on how to use it better?
(and that first url doesn't seem to involve a Patent search, if that's what you are after, stick to the link to the patent and trademark office search).
Current Patent Search is here
[patft.uspto.gov...]
another for applications
[appft1.uspto.gov...]
Thanks Travoli, had seen that site (since there #2 on Google..)(with a pr8.. them stinkers) will spend a little time looking deeper.
It is funny you mention search engine patents Jeremy, the Patent Office sure could use some help with theirs... ha ha the relevancy is almost funny, just to find the right classification is a full day job...
Agreed, their search isn't the best...seems only to lead you to a pile of stuff, through which you can only dig deeper...
While I was patenting a packet-oriented communication system, I had to read through about thirty other patents that came up as "possibly similar" to what I was working on. And I mean I had to read and understand them, and then basically "swear" to the patent attorney that they did not cover any part of our new system.
The patent process is rather archaic, and so it is inefficient. You will likely have to dig through a lot of junk just like I did. Once you are reasonably sure that your idea is unique and patentable, then hire a patent attorney. A lot of those "inventors aid" companies are fly-by-night outfits that will gouge you, usually by having you assign royalties to them to pay the bill. If your idea is a good one, then invest in it - hire a competent patent attorney and pay him, rather than making any deals on royalties. Do not share the rights to your ideas unless there is absolutely no other choice.
Disclaimer: I am not a patent attorney, and wouldn't want to be one. :)
Jim
Thanks for the advice Jim, I had a feeling it would be something like that. There goes next weekend...
I would guess this is the guy your warning me about...
The first is a paper patent search which is conducted in the patent office search room by my patent searcher. The second is an internet search which is conducted by myself.from itspatentable.c0m
why do I need this guy when I should go straight to the searcher... :0
This [lesi.org] was some good reading.
Travoli, looks like your suggestion [delphion.com] has the actual data [ibm.com]
