Five Things Academic Scientists Should Know When Pursuing Their First Patent – Five-Part Series

Patent law has many surprises in store for academic scientists pursuing a patent for the first time.  Many patent attorneys were once researchers just like you—we understand it can be intimidating.  This blog series provides tips that, while simplified, will help you to start thinking like an informed inventor.

Part I: You've made a discovery – Now what?

We'll start with the first question a patent attorney might ask you: Have you told anyone about your invention?

A patent can be thought of as a monopoly granted by the government in exchange for the disclosure of an invention.  If an invention is publicly disclosed before a patent application is filed, the premature disclosure might preclude obtaining patent protection for your invention.