Patents are the most powerful form of intellectual property protection available. They can be used to protect inventions, designs, and industrial processes. Patents have been in existence for centuries, but only became common in the United States during the 19th century.
Patents are classified as either utility patents or design patents. A utility patent protects any new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. A design patent protects the “ornamental design” of an article of manufacture. In other words, a design patent protects the way something looks as opposed to how it works.
A design patent lasts for 14 years from the date of issuance. This is much shorter than a utility patent, which can last up to 20 years from the date of filing.
The application process is the same for both types of patents. Designs must be novel, nonobvious and meet other requirements in order to qualify for a design patent. The invention must also be capable of being made or used in some way. Consulting with professional patenting agencies, such as Invent Help, is highly recommended. They can help you avoid the many pitfalls that might prevent your design from being patented. If you are interested in a design patent but aren’t sure whether it is right for you, contact Invent Help today.
They can help you determine whether a design patent is the right choice for your invention, as well as walk you through the process of filing and maintaining a design patent.
If you think you’ll need a utility patent instead, Invent Help can help you there as well. They have years of experience helping inventors protect their ideas and make them a reality, as you can read from this – InventHelp review. They know the ins and outs of the patent process, which means that they can help you navigate it with ease. They will guide you through every step of the process and make sure that your idea is protected as soon as possible.