Idea Discovery Pack

Youve had an idea that you want to take to market. You think it has great potential, and youre itching to get started. You certainly dont want to see the same idea for sale, without you having anything to do with it. But you also dont want to be infringing anothers rights. Our Idea Discovery Pack is just the ticket to help you to get on the right track, and to give you a kick start down the road to making money from the idea. There are so many things to think about, and parts of the jigsaw that you need to piece together. You need to have the idea designed, make a prototype, write a business plan, do some market research and of course secure patent protection, but you just dont know where to start and what should come first. Not to mention the fact that its all sounding very expensive and youve heard the rumours about how expensive the patent process can be! But like any good super-sleuth, if youre clever about the route you take, and deploy our tried and tested tactics, you can minimise the cost of securing patent protection, without cutting any corners. So heres what you need to do...

Patent Search Get Digging!

Before you ideas-types come to The Patent Factory for a professional patent search, we always suggest that you have a good look yourself to see whether your next big idea has been done before. We know what you clever ideas people are like another day, another idea! If you spend a bit of time researching each idea, it might help you to focus on those ideas with the most potential. Theres a wealth of information on our blog offering you help with patent searching and all our tricks of the trade. But heres how to tackle a patent search in a nutshell... Use Esp@cenet or Search4ip. As you would with any search engine, tap in a couple of keywords that you would use to describe your idea into the Keyword in title or abstract box. Too many results? Add another keyword into the mix and try again. Too few or no results? Delete a keyword and keep it more general. Still nothing to show for it? Try keywords that describe the problem that your idea solves. Remember that patents tend to use formal language think pushchair or pram, not buggy. 1 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

Use a thesaurus or dictionary if you need to try new keywords. Got a result? Take a quick squiz at the mosaics, otherwise known as drawings. Drawing looks like your idea? Have a read of the description. If in doubt, print it out! Youll need oubt, professional advice before you go any further. Cant find anything quite like it? Thats box number 1 ticked. Now you need a professional search to confirm your findings. And if you find something similar, or even the same, dont be disheartened! It is certainly not the same, end of the road. Perhaps you can offer modifications or improvements over those that you have found. You certainly dont want to risk infringing anothers rights but we can help you to check out the situation in more depth should you still wish to crack on with development. ituation

Trade Mark Search The Name Game

Have you given your idea a catchy name? If so, and you think the name will stick, you should consider checking out if anyone else has used the same, or similar name, for the same type of goods. You can of course Google it and check the obvious domains. You could even try Companies House to see if anything similar crops up. But your best bet is to check the Trade Mar Registry. If Marks someone else has registered the same name, and owns the trade mark for it, imagine how expensive it could become to have to change yours downstream. Heres what you need to do... Access the UK Trade Marks Database here. Type your word(s) into the box marked text. Dont worry about Search Constraints for now save that for the experts experts. See if any word marks crop up that are identical or similar to yours. If so, check out the list of goods and services they are registered for. If these are the same, or similar, too, you may be best off steering well clear clear. If theres nothing quite the same, ask an expert to check your findings. It costs just 200 to register a trade mark in the UK in one class, and an additional 50 for each additional class of goods/services. A trade mark can be the best investment you make. But do take time to make sure the name that you have chosen for your company or your latest product is new. you 2 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

Our Top 10 Patent Searching Tips & Tricks

Before you ideas-types come to The Patent Factory types for a professional patent search we always suggest search, that you have a good look yourself to see whether your next big idea has been done before We know before. what you ideas people are like another day, another idea! If you spend a bit of time on each new brainwave, digging out any prior art, it might help you to focus on those ideas with the most potential potential. And if you find something similar, or even the same, dont be disheartened! It is certainly not the end of the road. Perhaps you can offer modifications or improvements over those that you have found. You certainly dont want to risk infringing anothers rights but we can help you to check out the situation in k more depth should you still wish to crack on with development. So here goes, the tricks of the trade to help you to get going with patent searching We have over searching. 10 years of experience digging around the various patent search engines, and want you to have the engines, best bits in a nutshell, so you can become a patent searching master!

1. Go global!
We get lots of enquiries where people just want a UK patent search. But to achieve patent protection one of the requirements from the UK Patents Act is that your idea is not in the public Patents domain anywhere in the world prior to filing. So theres not much point just trying to sniff it out in filing. the UK, you need take into account the rest of the world too. Patent search engines such as Esp@cenet allow you to do just that.

2. Think like a Roman...

OK, so you dont need to be fluent in Latin, amo amas amat and all that. Just be clever with the language that you use in a keyword search. If youve an idea for the next best buggy, think how search. Julius Caesar might have chosen to describe it. You might now be venturing closer to the sort of language Patent Attorneys use! A buggy is also a pushchair, pram, four-wheeled vehicle for an wheeled infant, or theres even a clue in the Oxford English Dictionary that defines it as a baby carriage. Dont just type in buggy and leap for joy when there are no results youve got to try all the other possible keywords too.

3 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

3. Rule Britannia?
Bear in mind that people in other countries dont call stuff the same things we do. Those across the pond in the States would probably think a buggy was a cute name for a four legged creature. Whereas theyd know exactly what you were after if you asked for a stroller! Other words include perambulator, pram and pushchair. If in doubt, use a thesaurus to dig them out.

4. Bambino Motors...
So thats the brand name youve dreamt up for your new range of luxury baby transportation but tapping that into the patent search engines isnt going to do you much good! For the brand name itself, youll need to do a trade mark search. Well do a blog post soon to tell you how to tackle one of those. In the meantime, back to thinking like Julius stick to words youd find in the dictionary.

5. Pretty as a Picture...
Your revised keyword strategy is working, and youre managing to dig out lots of patents that may or may not relate to your idea. We find the fastest way to get a good idea of what they disclose is to take a quick squiz at the pictures. The mosaics, as they are known on Esp@cenet, will show you the drawings that accompany the patent application. If it looks a bit similar to the scribbles in your sketchbook, you know its worth taking time to read the rest of the details.

6. Boolean Operators...
Just when you thought youd left them well and truly behind in those dreaded algebra lessons at school, were making you jog your memory and put them to good use! Well just three of them... AND, OR, NOT. For an example entering pushchair OR stroller OR perambulator in the keyword in abstract field, will find those patents that match at least one of those words. AND is great to narrow down your search. Whereas NOT allows you to exclude words from your search.

7. Google it!
Dont forget to Google it too. As we said before, if your idea has been published anywhere in the world, in any form, that forms prior art against you gaining patent protection. We dont advise that you think like Julius when searching on Google. You need to use the sort of language you would use to advertise your idea. Or keywords that describe the problem you are seeking to solve. This should help you to find out how other people are solving that very problem.

4 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

8. Spell Check...
If in doubt, use a star*. For words that are spelt differently in other countries, just type the bit that countries, is the same and use the asterisk symbol to fill in the gaps. For an example, the word colour is spelt color in the US, so just type colo*. Or finish a singular word with an asterisk to be sure to search all finish plural versions too.

9. Dig Deep...
Patent search engines such as Search4ip allow you to search the full text of the patent, not just the abstract. Be sure that the description box is checked in the text files, then type in your keywords . and see what crops up. By searching the description as well as the abstract, youll find you end up with far more results. But luckily this search engine lets you use more keywords.

10. If at first you dont succeed...

Leave it to the professionals! We realise that is not quite how the saying goes, but if youre not finding much through your own searches, wed suggest you call in the experts Its so rare not to ur experts. find any prior art at all. And even if you have found some stuff, you need some all important advice on what to do next.

So by now youve probably had a good look for yourself to see whether theres anything in the prior yourself art that might prevent you from achieving worthwhile patent protection for your latest venture. Hopefully weve helped you to filter your own ideas, and pick out those that look as though they have the most potential. Youve made a great start, but dont stop there! Every new idea has its own journey, and you dont want someone to reach your destination before you do. Patent searching is what we do and were here to help you take those all important first steps with your next big idea. st

5 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

Usual Route Vs Our Route

Most people who come to The Patent Factory for help protecting their idea are convinced the first ideas step is to file a patent application. And were sure most Patent Attorneys would encourage you to ile do just that! However, once you file that initial application, you start the clock ticking, and before you know it youll be notching up considerable patent fees, long before youve made a penny penny. Were often asked how much does it cost to get a patent? Well theres no easy answer to this question. But what the following flow chart shows is how to be tactical about protecting your idea. Every idea is different, and therefore every route is different too. But if you want to minimise costs until youre making money from the idea ( re (without of course cutting any corners) you should t consider employing our tried and tested tactics.

Usual Route...

You have an idea for a mobile widget, and you know you need to protect it. You find a Patent need Attorney through CIPA (Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys) and they prepare and file a patent application on your behalf. Official fees in the UK for the 1st year are 200. Patent Attorneys fees for preparing and filing the application are typically in excess of 1.5k. So thats a fair old 1.5k. investment even before youve done much else, and long before youre making any money from the idea. You start the Patent Clock ticking, and in 12 months time you face the closing date to protect your ent ticking, widget in other countries. Will you know by then whether your widget will even sell? The patent fees at this milestone begin to ramp up. You dont want to be having to make this decision too early in the process. What if the search report from the UK IPO comes back with similar products to your widget? Perhaps theres even an identical patent to your widget that is granted and in force, and if you continue, youre likely to infringe anothers rights. Youd have to make big changes to your widget, y rights. or forget the project altogether, and move on to your next idea. Youve had it designed and developed, filed a patent application, ordered vast quantities from the factory, and are gearing up ready to start selling. What an investment! What a shame if only now nd do you discover you probably wont achieve worthwhile patent protection after all. 6 Call 0208 408 0659 www.patentfactory.co.uk Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

The Patent Factory Route...

Here at The Patent Factory, we take our clients down a slightly different path that minimises their outlay until they are starting to make money from the idea. As soon as you have come up with a new idea, have a quick look to see whether you can already buy it, or even try your hand at patent , even searching. Not found anything? Get in touch with us right away so we can run a professional et search to find out whether it is in fact new, and whether you can protect it. Well also flag up any possible infringement issues at t stage. this Providing you dont disclose the idea without a confidentiality agreement in place we encourage place, you to hold off filing your UK patent application, until you are getting close to your first public disclosure of the idea, ideally the product launch. You start that 12 month patent clock ticking when launch. your idea is further down the route. With any luck, when the 12 month closing date for filing in other countries comes along, youre already making money from the idea. You should at least . have a better idea of whether it will in fact sell, and in which countries countries. Youve also refined your widget through the design & development stage, so the patent application stage, seeks to protect your widget in the form in which you will be selling it. Perhaps you decided to youve power it differently, and this wasnt covered in your earlier application. Wouldnt you be better off waiting until you know your widget inside out? Otherwise, you may even find yourself filing another patent application to cover any modif modifications. The only risk is whether someone else files a patent application for a similar widget whilst you are busy with design & development. But you have to ask yourself what are the chances of this happening? When you come to The Patent Factory, well help you to work out when the best time would be for you to file your patent application. We would always suggest that you use a Chartered Patent Attorney for preparing and filing a patent application. We realise they dont come cheap, but there is a pretty good reason for that! Drafting a pretty patent application is not something you can learn overnight. We work with some of the best in the business, and would happily put you in touch with them. , We can work with you to help you put together a route that is tailor-made to suit your idea. Its made all about being strategic and getting the right bits sorted in the right order. 7 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011

The Patent Factory Ask our Patent Attorneys

So what do we do, and how can we help you to protect your idea?

Our Services
Snapshot Search Service Weve launched a brand new service. Weve listened to our existing customers and recognised that service. most of you have lots of ideas. Gone are the days of the shed inventor that has spent a lifetime pondering over just one ropey old contraption You entrepreneurial-types are full to the brim with contraption. types ideas, and what you really need is an early early-stage way to filter out the best ones. So this service does just that. It is handled solely by a UK and European Patent Attorney. We take a look at the prior art in this area, and send you a professional opinion about how best to protect the or idea. We supply you with an electronic report that gives you the evidence to back up our advice. This service is available online, through our website www.patentfactory.co.uk and the introductory price for a limited period is just 95.

PatentPlus Search Service For those that want a bit more, or for those ideas that have soared through Snapshot, we offer our , Patentplus search service. Again this is solely handled by a Patent Attorney not a search monkey in ch sight. We delve deeper into your idea and dig out any prior art that may stop you from securing a patent. We explore possible infringement issues, and carry out patent status checks where necessary. And ultimately, our Patent Attorney offers their professional opinion on how best to protect the idea. You can also have a chat with the Patent Attorney that handles your idea at a time that suits you, to talk through the results of your search and devise a plan of action going forwards. This service is available online, through our website www.patentfactory.co.uk and the cost for this service is 350.

8 Call 0208 408 0659 Email: stuff@patentfactory.co.uk www.patentfactory.co.uk The Patent Factory 2011