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.