How LegalZoom Can Help Your Business Get Off the Ground

LegalZoom was one of the first companies to offer low-cost legal forms and filings, aiding tens of thousands of small businesses nationwide in their growth efforts.

They provide a range of services, such as foreign qualification filings, trademarks and copyrights protection, plus assistance with business formation such as LLCs. Furthermore, their customer support team is accessible seven days a week for added peace of mind.

Utility Patent

If you have an innovative idea that you would like to protect, a utility patent is the ideal solution. This type of patent gives you the legal right to prevent others from making, using, offering for sale or selling your invention in the United States for up to 20 years from when you file your application.

Though more costly than a design patent, a utility patent offers greater protection since it focuses on how your invention works rather than just its appearance and shape. This type of patent is especially helpful when developing products requiring extensive engineering work or if you want to ensure no one else copies your invention in any way.

The cost of obtaining a utility patent depends on the invention you wish to protect and the level of expertise required for filing it. Generally, the more complex an invention, the higher this service will cost.

Before submitting a patent application, it is essential to conduct an exhaustive search of existing patents and published applications to detect any prior inventions that could infringe upon your new idea. Doing this saves money in the long run as well as saving time and energy on an application that could be rejected by the Patent Office.

LegalZoom provides patent searches at an affordable cost, including a comprehensive strategy that uncovers prior inventions in related fields, reports compiled and bound for easy reference, speedy results sent via two-day shipping, plus more. Plus, their fee is fully backed by their 100% satisfaction guarantee and lifetime customer support – so you know you’re getting quality work at this low price.

In addition to searching for prior inventions, a utility patent search can help determine whether your new invention will be considered “novel” and non-obvious by the Patent Office. A patent search is the only way to be sure your invention meets all eligibility requirements for a utility patent.

Design Patent

A design patent is an intellectual property (IP) protection that safeguards the aesthetics, shape, and ornamentation of an invention. This type of IP protection can be beneficial to inventors who want to safeguard their designs without incurring the costly expense of obtaining a utility patent.

A basic design patent application typically costs around $1,500 to $2,000. This includes filing fees, examination expenses and an issue fee. However, the cost can be much higher if you’re facing complex legal matters that necessitate hiring a knowledgeable attorney for assistance.

Save money by hiring LegalZoom as your non-attorney service for design patent preparation and filing. They’ll conduct a design patent search, prepare your application, and review your design drawings to guarantee they’re accurate.

Legalzoom’s basic provisional patent cost is currently $199 plus USPTO filing fees, however this service doesn’t provide the same comprehensive analysis that a lawyer would offer. Furthermore, there are plenty of disclaimers and no guarantees about what results you will get from using their services.

If you require more intricate drawings than those included with Legalzoom’s basic package, hiring a professional designer or draftsperson to create them is wise. They should be able to produce accurate, well-scaled diagrams that showcase all necessary elements to satisfy the USPTO examiner.

Alternatively, you can utilize the WIPO Global Design Database to search for similar designs that have already been granted in other countries. Doing so allows you to extend the scope of your protection and boost the value of your design patent.

The design patent process can be costly, but it’s an effective way to safeguard your invention. It’s much quicker than the utility patent process which may take up to one year before issuing and design patent holders don’t need renew their registration – making them attractive options for entrepreneurs looking to get ahead of competitors. Furthermore, getting a design patent prevents others from copying your creation, saving you from missing out on potential sales opportunities or market share.

Patent Drawings

Patent drawings are essential components of any patent application. They help the USPTO examiner better comprehend your invention, particularly if there is extensive prior art to explain. Furthermore, these drawings highlight the specific features of your product so that the examiner can better appreciate how it functions and what makes it unique from other offerings.

Preparing patent drawings can be done several ways, from hiring a professional draftsperson or company to doing it yourself. You could even use CAD software for accurate, professional patent drawings; however, working with an experienced professional is recommended since they guarantee your drawings meet USPTO quality standards and meet all other relevant regulations.

The cost of creating patent drawings varies significantly based on how much work the draftsperson is expected to do. Typically, you can expect to pay between $75 and $150 per sheet of drawings depending on the complexity of your invention and any reference materials provided to them.

Another option is to draw your own drawings using a pen and ruler. While this method is cost-effective, drawing correctly requires using India ink (a black ink with carbon particles that is typically used in architectural and technical drawings). You’ll need to learn basic drawing techniques as well as perspective views that clearly depict your invention.

Furthermore, you may not be able to include certain details in your drawings that are essential for patentability of your invention. In such cases, photographs can be substituted.

Additionally, make sure your drawings meet the USPTO’s format and quality requirements, which can be found in 37 CFR 1.84. These rules apply to both provisional and non-provisional applications.

Most inventors outsource their patent drawings to a professional draftsperson or drafting firm. These companies can easily be located online and will gladly complete your drawings for you; some even provide reduced rates if filing for a provisional patent.

Patent Search

A patent search is an essential step in the process of securing a patent on your invention. By conducting a search, you can be certain that your invention qualifies for receiving protection and save both time and money by not spending resources on an application that may not be approved.

You have two options for conducting your own search: conduct it yourself or hire a company to do the work for you. Many patent search companies can be found online, with some even offering free options.

The cost of a patent search varies based on the invention and technology involved, as well as how much detail is necessary.

Typically, the cost of conducting a patent search ranges from $500 to $2000. The time spent conducting the search plays an additional role in determining cost.

If you want to save some money on the search, LegalZoom can perform your patent search for a nominal fee. It is strongly advised that you consult with a qualified patent attorney before committing to using this service.

Before beginning your invention search, it is recommended that you conduct a CPC classification search of the USPTO’s Patents Full-Text and Image (PatFT) database and Applications Full-Text and Image (AppFT). Doing this can provide an extensive list of potential patents related to your idea.

Once you have a list of patents, examine them for any similarities to your invention. You can do this by reviewing the claims, additional drawings pages and specifications contained within each patent.

Searching for a patent can be done online, in a patent library or through local businesses. Be sure to record the name, number and date of filing for each patent.

Next, carefully evaluate the patents. Look for similarities to your own invention in their references, additional drawings pages and specifications.

Finally, evaluate the patent claims to see if they infringe upon your own invention. This is best done by a licensed patent attorney since searching through patent records may not reveal all of the exact claims that could potentially infringe upon yours.

https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
https://techcrunch.com/
https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/startup-resources
https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/fund-your-business
https://hbr.org/1998/11/how-venture-capital-works
http://patentpc.com/
http://uspto.gov/