Clear, plain-English guides to how patents work — so you can protect your idea with confidence.
Short reads that take you from "what's a patent?" to filing your own — one clear step at a time.
What a patent is, what it protects, and why it matters for your idea.
The difference between a provisional and a full patent — and which you need first.
A walkthrough of what happens from your idea to "patent pending."
How expired patents become open opportunities you can build on.
What filing actually costs — our fee, USPTO fees, and entity status.
Your 12-month window, what to do with it, and how to keep your rights.
A provisional patent gives your invention a temporary, 12-month protection by locking in an official filing date — buying you a year to build, test, and fundraise before filing a full patent.
The specific part of your invention you're asking to protect. Broader claims cover more.
The written description of how your invention works — the body of the application.
The United States Patent & Trademark Office — the agency you file your patent with.
A status for individuals and small inventors that qualifies you for the lowest USPTO fees.
Everything already public that's similar to your idea — it decides if yours is new.
Your status once you've filed — a public signal that a filing date is already yours.