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You are here: Home / Courses / Navigating the Patent System

Navigating the Patent System

April 12, 2018 by James Yang

Navigating the Patent System book cover

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Navigating the Patent System explains:

  1. The Seven Core Concepts, which answer common questions about patents.  It helps inventors understand the fundamentals to make more informed decisions before filing a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  2. The structure of a well-prepared patent application.  By understanding the proper structure, inventors are equipped with knowledge.
  3. Frequently asked questions about specific issues that typically arise after filing the patent application with the USPTO.

Course Information

Estimated Time: 30 days (50,000 words)

Difficulty: Intermediate

Categories: Patent, Trademark

Tags: 7 Core Concepts, Navigating the Patent System

Course Instructor

James Yang James Yang Author

James Yang is a registered patent attorney (USPTO Reg. No. 54,556) and principal of DANE IP Law PC (OC Patent Lawyer) in Irvine, California. Since 2004, he has helped inventors, startups and mid-size companies secure patents for their inventions and register trademarks for their brands. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona and a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. If you need help, call (949) 433-0900.

Introduction

1 of 3 FREE
Disclaimer
Lesson 1 of 3 within section Introduction.
2 of 3 FREE
What you will find in this course
Lesson 2 of 3 within section Introduction.
3 of 3 FREE
How to use this course
Lesson 3 of 3 within section Introduction.

To Patent or Not To Patent (Section 1)

1 of 3 FREE
Purpose of the patent system
Lesson 1 of 3 within section To Patent or Not To Patent (Section 1).
Has Quiz
2 of 3 FREE
Benefits to the patent owner
Lesson 2 of 3 within section To Patent or Not To Patent (Section 1).
Has Quiz
3 of 3 FREE
Overview of the Seven Core Concepts
Lesson 3 of 3 within section To Patent or Not To Patent (Section 1).

Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts

1 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 1: Defining the Invention (Chapter 1)
Lesson 1 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz
2 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 2: Ownership–Resolving Ownership Issues (Chapter 2)
Lesson 2 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz
3 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 3: Conducting a Novelty Search (Chapter 3)
Lesson 3 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz
4 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 4: Different Ways to Protect an Idea (Chapter 4)
Lesson 4 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz
5 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 5: Three Bars to Patentability and the First-Inventor-to-File Regime (Chapter 5)
Lesson 5 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz
6 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 6: Preserving Foreign Patent Protection (Chapter 6)
Lesson 6 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz
7 of 7 FREE
Core Concept 7: The Overall Patent Process and Costs (Chapter 7)
Lesson 7 of 7 within section Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts.
Has Quiz

Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2)

1 of 15 FREE
How to use this section on patent applications
Lesson 1 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
2 of 15 FREE
Deciding what application to file: Design or utility?
Lesson 2 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
3 of 15 FREE
Design Applications (Chapter 8)
Lesson 3 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
4 of 15 FREE
Cost Considerations for Provisional and Nonprovisional Utility Patent Applications (Chapter 9)
Lesson 4 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
5 of 15 FREE
Overarching Principles of a Utility Patent Application (Chapter 10)
Lesson 5 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
6 of 15 FREE
Parts of a Utility Patent Application (Chapter 11)
Lesson 6 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
7 of 15 FREE
Claims section
Lesson 7 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
8 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #1: How to write an application with the broadest possible protection (without breaking the bank) (Chapter 12)
Lesson 8 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
9 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #2: Be explicit. Don’t rely on inferences made in the patent application
Lesson 9 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
10 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #3: Using the word “may” versus “is”
Lesson 10 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
11 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #4: Preferred embodiments and using the word “substantial”
Lesson 11 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
12 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #5: Do not use the word, “invention” 
Lesson 12 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
13 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #6: Suboptimal embodiments
Lesson 13 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
14 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #7: Ranges
Lesson 14 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz
15 of 15 FREE
Writing Tip #8: Software Inventions
Lesson 15 of 15 within section Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2).
Has Quiz

Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3)

1 of 9 FREE
FAQ #1: Patent Process Timing
Lesson 1 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
2 of 9 FREE
FAQs #2-3: Patent Costs
Lesson 2 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
3 of 9 FREE
FAQ #4: Duty to search v. Duty to disclose
Lesson 3 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
4 of 9 FREE
FAQ #5: Review of Formalities
Lesson 4 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
5 of 9 FREE
FAQs #6-7: Secrecy
Lesson 5 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
6 of 9 FREE
FAQs #8-9: Nonpublication request and foreign patent protection
Lesson 6 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
7 of 9 FREE
FAQs #10-16: Restriction Requirement
Lesson 7 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
8 of 9 FREE
FAQs #17-21: Responding to Office Action rejections
Lesson 8 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz
9 of 9 FREE
FAQs #22-29: Broadening patent protection
Lesson 9 of 9 within section Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3).
Has Quiz

Appendices

1 of 6 FREE
Appendix A: Trademark
Lesson 1 of 6 within section Appendices.
2 of 6 FREE
Appendix B: Sample Utility Patent  
Lesson 2 of 6 within section Appendices.
3 of 6 FREE
Appendix C: Sample Design Patent
Lesson 3 of 6 within section Appendices.
4 of 6 FREE
Appendix D: Sample Trademark Registration
Lesson 4 of 6 within section Appendices.
5 of 6 FREE
Appendix E: Entity Size 
Lesson 5 of 6 within section Appendices.
6 of 6 FREE
Appendix F: Patent Laws
Lesson 6 of 6 within section Appendices.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
    • Disclaimer
    • What you will find in this course
    • How to use this course
  • To Patent or Not To Patent (Section 1)
    • Purpose of the patent system
    • Benefits to the patent owner
    • Overview of the Seven Core Concepts
  • Getting Started: Seven Core Patent Concepts
    • Core Concept 1: Defining the Invention (Chapter 1)
    • Core Concept 2: Ownership–Resolving Ownership Issues (Chapter 2)
    • Core Concept 3: Conducting a Novelty Search (Chapter 3)
    • Core Concept 4: Different Ways to Protect an Idea (Chapter 4)
    • Core Concept 5: Three Bars to Patentability and the First-Inventor-to-File Regime (Chapter 5)
    • Core Concept 6: Preserving Foreign Patent Protection (Chapter 6)
    • Core Concept 7: The Overall Patent Process and Costs (Chapter 7)
  • Utility and Design Patent Applications (Section 2)
    • How to use this section on patent applications
    • Deciding what application to file: Design or utility?
    • Design Applications (Chapter 8)
    • Cost Considerations for Provisional and Nonprovisional Utility Patent Applications (Chapter 9)
    • Overarching Principles of a Utility Patent Application (Chapter 10)
    • Parts of a Utility Patent Application (Chapter 11)
    • Claims section
    • Writing Tip #1: How to write an application with the broadest possible protection (without breaking the bank) (Chapter 12)
    • Writing Tip #2: Be explicit. Don’t rely on inferences made in the patent application
    • Writing Tip #3: Using the word “may” versus “is”
    • Writing Tip #4: Preferred embodiments and using the word “substantial”
    • Writing Tip #5: Do not use the word, “invention” 
    • Writing Tip #6: Suboptimal embodiments
    • Writing Tip #7: Ranges
    • Writing Tip #8: Software Inventions
  • Patent Examination FAQs (Section 3)
    • FAQ #1: Patent Process Timing
    • FAQs #2-3: Patent Costs
    • FAQ #4: Duty to search v. Duty to disclose
    • FAQ #5: Review of Formalities
    • FAQs #6-7: Secrecy
    • FAQs #8-9: Nonpublication request and foreign patent protection
    • FAQs #10-16: Restriction Requirement
    • FAQs #17-21: Responding to Office Action rejections
    • FAQs #22-29: Broadening patent protection
  • Appendices
    • Appendix A: Trademark
    • Appendix B: Sample Utility Patent  
    • Appendix C: Sample Design Patent
    • Appendix D: Sample Trademark Registration
    • Appendix E: Entity Size 
    • Appendix F: Patent Laws

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