The United States is a member of the International Convention so as to grant such priority based on a foreign patent application.

8) Are there time limits in which to file a patent application at the U.S. Patent Office?

The inventor(s) must file a United States Patent Application within 1 year (if patent protection is desired in the United States) of the earlier of:

• making an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and

  sometimes even when the invention is not yet manufactured or otherwise

  available);

• use of the invention in public (e.g. using the invention at work or in public

  on the stre

  Penny Stock Trading
  Penny stock aspirants need not worry too much over how they can get started. For the procedure required to be followed in the case of penny stocks is similar to those applicable to other stocks. In other words, you have to open a brokerage account. However, actual trading in the penny stocks is not as simple as in the case of (for example) blue chip shares, because the market intelligence required to make the right investment decision is not easily available. You have to collate this information from different sources using your individual effort.However, if you have a broker, you job is half done. The broker can provide enough information for you to get initiated into penny stock trading. Further, you can also get insight from your broker into possi
  Are you confused about what a patent is and whether you should get one? This is a primer for beginning inventors that answers your most commonly asked questions.

  1) What is a patent?

  A patent is a form of intellectual property which rewards persons whom invent a new and non-obvious:

  • process or method;

  • machine;

  • article of manufacture; or

  • composition of matter.

  In return for completely disclosing the invention including how to practice the invention, a legal monopoly on the invention is granted to the inventor(s) for a specific period of time.

  That legal monopoly is the right for the inventor(s) to exclude other persons and businesses from:

  • making;

  • using;

  • offering for sale or selling; or

  • importing;

  the invention in the United States.

  2) What is "patent pending"?

  Once a patent application is prepared and filed and prior to issuance of a patent, the invention can be marked "patent pending" or "patent applied for".

  While these have no legal significance and grant the inventor(s) no legal rights, the designation tends to discourage other persons or businesses from copying the invention since a patent might issue on the invention granting the legal monopoly to the inventor(s).

  3) Are there different types of patents?

  There are two types of patents that are typically of interest to inventors, design patents and utility patents.

  A design patent protects the "aesthetics" or the "appearance" of the invention and is a much more limited legal monopoly than utility patents which protect the "function" of the invention.

  Therefore, utility patents are desirable over design patents where possible, though an invention can be protected by both design and utility patents.

  4) How long do patents provide legal protection for the inventor?

  The period of time for which the legal monopoly is granted for a utility patent is 20 years from the filing date of a utility patent application, however, the legal rights do not begin until the patent issues.

  The period of time for which the legal monopoly is granted for a design patent is 14 years from the issue date.

  5) What are maintenance fees?

  Utility patents require the payment of maintenance fees 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years following issuance to maintain the patent in force. Design patents require no maintenance fees to maintain the patent in force.

  6) Should I keep my invention secret?

  The inventor(s) should be careful to maintain their invention secret until the advice of a competent licensed patent attorney or patent agent is sought.

  That is because many foreign countries in which the inventor(s) might decide to seek patent protection there is an "absolute novelty" requirement.

  This means that if the invention is "publicly disclosed" (i.e. disclosed to people in a non-confidential manner) prior to the "effective filing date" in that country, then the validity of any patent which would potentially issue on the invention in that country could be challenged later.

  7) What is the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention?

  Many countries are members of the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention.

  These countries allow inventor(s) to claim priority based on the filing date of the first filed patent application in a member country, provided a patent application is filed in the member country within 1 year of such first filed patent application (within 6 months for design patent applications).

  The United States is a member of the International Convention so as to grant such priority based on a foreign patent application.

  8) Are there time limits in which to file a patent application at the U.S. Patent Office?

  The inventor(s) must file a United States Patent Application within 1 year (if patent protection is desired in the United States) of the earlier of:

  • making an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and

    sometimes even when the invention is not yet manufactured or otherwise

    available);

  • use of the invention in public (e.g. using the invention at work or in public

    on the stree

    Surefire Way To Find Hot Selling eBook Topics
    To become an entrepreneur, you need product ideas.Even more important,YOU NEED PRODUCT IDEAS THAT SELL.To locate products that sell online, you need to understand what people already want to buy.The single biggest cause of failure when writing non-fiction books, booklets, ebooks or any other information-based product is a poor choice of idea or product.It's no doubt this is the main issue for anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur, there are all kinds of twists along the road that may lead you to THINK you have a high-demand idea.For example, you are NOT part of a given niche market, yet you see evidence that there are a great many people searching for information on a particular topic. BUT - it turns out

  • offering for sale or selling; or

  • importing;

  the invention in the United States.

  2) What is "patent pending"?

  Once a patent application is prepared and filed and prior to issuance of a patent, the invention can be marked "patent pending" or "patent applied for".

  While these have no legal significance and grant the inventor(s) no legal rights, the designation tends to discourage other persons or businesses from copying the invention since a patent might issue on the invention granting the legal monopoly to the inventor(s).

  3) Are there different types of patents?

  There are two types of patents that are typically of interest to inventors, design patents and utility patents.

  A design patent protects the "aesthetics" or the "appearance" of the invention and is a much more limited legal monopoly than utility patents which protect the "function" of the invention.

  Therefore, utility patents are desirable over design patents where possible, though an invention can be protected by both design and utility patents.

  4) How long do patents provide legal protection for the inventor?

  The period of time for which the legal monopoly is granted for a utility patent is 20 years from the filing date of a utility patent application, however, the legal rights do not begin until the patent issues.

  The period of time for which the legal monopoly is granted for a design patent is 14 years from the issue date.

  5) What are maintenance fees?

  Utility patents require the payment of maintenance fees 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years following issuance to maintain the patent in force. Design patents require no maintenance fees to maintain the patent in force.

  6) Should I keep my invention secret?

  The inventor(s) should be careful to maintain their invention secret until the advice of a competent licensed patent attorney or patent agent is sought.

  That is because many foreign countries in which the inventor(s) might decide to seek patent protection there is an "absolute novelty" requirement.

  This means that if the invention is "publicly disclosed" (i.e. disclosed to people in a non-confidential manner) prior to the "effective filing date" in that country, then the validity of any patent which would potentially issue on the invention in that country could be challenged later.

  7) What is the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention?

  Many countries are members of the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention.

  These countries allow inventor(s) to claim priority based on the filing date of the first filed patent application in a member country, provided a patent application is filed in the member country within 1 year of such first filed patent application (within 6 months for design patent applications).

  The United States is a member of the International Convention so as to grant such priority based on a foreign patent application.

  8) Are there time limits in which to file a patent application at the U.S. Patent Office?

  The inventor(s) must file a United States Patent Application within 1 year (if patent protection is desired in the United States) of the earlier of:

  • making an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and

    sometimes even when the invention is not yet manufactured or otherwise

    available);

  • use of the invention in public (e.g. using the invention at work or in public

    on the stre

    Advertise Your Business Using Business Cards
    Business cards are a very good way of advertising a business that you are just getting off the ground or for an old established business. It is a very inexpensive way of advertising and the cards can be designed and made on a home computer and printed at home or in the office.The success of these cards depends on the way they are distributed. It must be an ongoing commitment. Never leave home without your cards so that at any time you want one, you will be able to produce it. See every passer by as a potential customer and hand your cards out with diligence.You must adopt the habit of always leaving a card behind wherever you have been. Leave it in a conspicuous place where it will be found by someone who is curious enough to pick it up an
    a much more limited legal monopoly than utility patents which protect the "function" of the invention.

    Therefore, utility patents are desirable over design patents where possible, though an invention can be protected by both design and utility patents.

    4) How long do patents provide legal protection for the inventor?

    The period of time for which the legal monopoly is granted for a utility patent is 20 years from the filing date of a utility patent application, however, the legal rights do not begin until the patent issues.

    The period of time for which the legal monopoly is granted for a design patent is 14 years from the issue date.

    5) What are maintenance fees?

    Utility patents require the payment of maintenance fees 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years following issuance to maintain the patent in force. Design patents require no maintenance fees to maintain the patent in force.

    6) Should I keep my invention secret?

    The inventor(s) should be careful to maintain their invention secret until the advice of a competent licensed patent attorney or patent agent is sought.

    That is because many foreign countries in which the inventor(s) might decide to seek patent protection there is an "absolute novelty" requirement.

    This means that if the invention is "publicly disclosed" (i.e. disclosed to people in a non-confidential manner) prior to the "effective filing date" in that country, then the validity of any patent which would potentially issue on the invention in that country could be challenged later.

    7) What is the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention?

    Many countries are members of the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention.

    These countries allow inventor(s) to claim priority based on the filing date of the first filed patent application in a member country, provided a patent application is filed in the member country within 1 year of such first filed patent application (within 6 months for design patent applications).

    The United States is a member of the International Convention so as to grant such priority based on a foreign patent application.

    8) Are there time limits in which to file a patent application at the U.S. Patent Office?

    The inventor(s) must file a United States Patent Application within 1 year (if patent protection is desired in the United States) of the earlier of:

    • making an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and

      sometimes even when the invention is not yet manufactured or otherwise

      available);

    • use of the invention in public (e.g. using the invention at work or in public

      on the stre

      The Purpose Driven Web Site
      The vast majority of web sites for small businesses are basic informational sites. Many people rightly call these sites “online brochures.” Taking into account the price associated with developing a web site, that’s one expensive brochure! Web sites should be more than just an expensive brochure: they should be a solution to a problem.What Can My Web Site Do For Me? That’s the question of the day: what can my web site do for me? It doesn’t matter if you sell products or services, your web site should be an integral part of your business. Web technology has advanced so much over the past few years; your web site has a large amount of potential. Put some thought into what your business needs and then try to accomplish that with your web si
      uld I keep my invention secret?

      The inventor(s) should be careful to maintain their invention secret until the advice of a competent licensed patent attorney or patent agent is sought.

      That is because many foreign countries in which the inventor(s) might decide to seek patent protection there is an "absolute novelty" requirement.

      This means that if the invention is "publicly disclosed" (i.e. disclosed to people in a non-confidential manner) prior to the "effective filing date" in that country, then the validity of any patent which would potentially issue on the invention in that country could be challenged later.

      7) What is the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention?

      Many countries are members of the International Treaty, also called the Paris Convention.

      These countries allow inventor(s) to claim priority based on the filing date of the first filed patent application in a member country, provided a patent application is filed in the member country within 1 year of such first filed patent application (within 6 months for design patent applications).

      The United States is a member of the International Convention so as to grant such priority based on a foreign patent application.

      8) Are there time limits in which to file a patent application at the U.S. Patent Office?

      The inventor(s) must file a United States Patent Application within 1 year (if patent protection is desired in the United States) of the earlier of:

      • making an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and

        sometimes even when the invention is not yet manufactured or otherwise

        available);

      • use of the invention in public (e.g. using the invention at work or in public

        on the stre

        Practical Accounting 1
        Why do we use Accounting?Accounting became a necessity as merchants needed to track who owed money to them and what they owed to suppliers.The next need was to determine whether the business was making a profit, or in the case of a charitable venture of at least covering costs. The concept of how this is achieved is the subject of many accounting theories and will be dealt with later.Of course, in a Western Society we must all contribute to the cost of providing community services and this means the determination of taxes.After the taxes have been calculated, then what remains may be distributed to the owners of the business.Unfortunately, the pressure of meeting the requirements of the Australian Tax Office means t
        first filed patent application in a member country, provided a patent application is filed in the member country within 1 year of such first filed patent application (within 6 months for design patent applications).

        The United States is a member of the International Convention so as to grant such priority based on a foreign patent application.

        8) Are there time limits in which to file a patent application at the U.S. Patent Office?

        The inventor(s) must file a United States Patent Application within 1 year (if patent protection is desired in the United States) of the earlier of:

        • making an offer to sell the invention (even if the offer is not accepted and

          sometimes even when the invention is not yet manufactured or otherwise

          available);

        • use of the invention in public (e.g. using the invention at work or in public

          on the street corner); or

        • or putting the invention in a printed publication which is circulated (e.g. a

          sales brochure, catalog, or a web site).

        These are called "statutory bars" and if the year period expires without filing the United States Patent Application, the inventor(s) are not permitted to file a patent application in the United States.

        Foreign priority (discussed above) or the priority of a provisional patent application (discussed below) can be used to predate the expiration of the 1 year period if applicable.

        9) What is a provisional patent application?

        A provisional patent application can be filed in the United States which provides a disclosure (description) of the invention, but which does not have the formal requirements of a utility patent application.

        Priority can be claimed for a utility patent application (but not a design patent application) and foreign patent applications in countries which are members of the International Convention if filed within 1 year of the filing date of the provisional patent application.

        The bottom line, timely consult a competent patent attorney or patent agent to discuss the details of protecting your invention!