Bay Area IP

Service

Getting Started : On a Patent: Small Entities

How To Start

 

How to obtain a (full Utility) US Patent Application

A good choice when strong protection of your patent or licensing rights is of prime importance.  The suggested steps towards obtaining a  (full Utility) US Patent application with Bay Area IP are as follows: 

  1. ASK GENERAL QUESTIONS:
    Still have questions before moving forward? You may want to have a quick look over our Frequently asked Questions (FAQ) guide to our Patent Application related services.
  2. DO PATENT SEARCH:
    Unsure if your idea is novel? You may want to search the US Patent Office (USPTO) patent database for patent documents (i.e., prior-art ) to look for patents and published patent publications that may be the same as your approach.  Alternatively, if it is within your cost and time budgets, it is often helpful for you have us perform a professional patentability patent search for you.
  3. DETERMINE COST:
    Get a written cost quote by clicking here to Request a Quote (usually within 1 business day) or give us a call.
  4. RECEIVE ENGAGEMENT MATERIAL:
    When Bay Area IP accepts you as a client, we will provide you with everything you will need to engage us for patent services you seek.
  5. ENGAGE US FOR WORK:
    Upon receiving the appropriate retainer payment, we will promptly confirm payment and provide you with an instruction on preparing and submitting your invention submission to us.
  6. INVENTION SUBMISSION:
    Securely     submit details about your invention and any relevant prior-art (e.g., patents) and/or documentation (e.g., brochures, manuals, presentations, photos, articles, drawings, etc.) to us.
  7. PATENT DRAFTING AND FILING:
    Having received your invention details and any related prior-art, we will prepare a draft utility patent application for your review and revision.  We iterate with you until we are both happy with the final work product, and you approve a final version for filing at the USPTO.
  8. FOREIGN PATENT RIGHTS:
    After filing the patent application in the US, we will await for your engagement to proceed on preparing any international patent applications (e.g., a PCT) before the one year deadline after the utility was filed.
  9. POST FILING EXAMINATION:
    Once filed, we wait to receive the first office action, which occurs after initial examination by the USPTO (usually 12-18 months after filing). See full patent prosecution for some more details. For a better idea of how the patent process works, from beginning to end, have a look at this interactive, visual flow chart of the patent process.

 

Steps in Attaining a Provisional Patent Application

If budget, timing, or quality goals preclude you from filing a quality regular US patent application, then a Provisional Patent Application (PPA) might be your best option.  We offer the utmost in flexibility to meet your needs optimally through two main categories of service; that is, highest quality Provisional Patent Application and lowest-cost oriented services- each having its respective goals. 

The suggested steps towards attaining a Provisional Patent Application with Bay Area Intellectual Property Group (Bay Area IP) depends on the particular type of a Provisional Patent Application service you desire.  


Quality Oriented Provisional Patents

A good choice when quality is important, yet budget is tight. To get started with our quality oriented Provisional Patent Application (PPA) service, we suggest the following steps be taken:

  1. UNDERSTAND OUR QUALITY PPA OPTIONS:
    Check out our FAQ guide to our quality PPA services
  2. DO PATENT SEARCH:
    Unsure if your idea is novel? You may want to search the US Patent Office (USPTO) patent database for patent documents (i.e., prior-art ) to look for patents and published patent publications that may be the same as your approach.  Alternatively, while done less often for provisional patent applications, if it is within your cost and time budgets, it is often helpful for you have us perform a professional patentability patent search for you.
  3. DETERMINE COST:
    Get a written cost quote by clicking here to Request a Quote (usually within 1 business day) or give us a call.
  4. RECEIVE ENGAGEMENT MATERIAL:
    When Bay Area IP accepts you as a client, we will provide you with everything you will need to engage us for patent services you seek.
  5. ENGAGE US FOR WORK:
    Upon receiving the appropriate retainer payment, we will promptly confirm payment and provide you with an instruction on preparing and submitting your invention submission to us.
  6. INVENTION SUBMISSION:
    Securely     submit details about your invention and any relevant prior-art (e.g., patents) and/or documentation (e.g., brochures, manuals, presentations, photos, articles, drawings, etc.) to us.
  7. PROVISIONAL PATENT DRAFTING AND FILING:
    Having received your invention details and any related prior-art, we will prepare a draft Provisional Patent Application for your review and revision.  We iterate with you until we are both happy with the final work product, and you approve a final version for filing at the USPTO.
  8. POST FILING MATTERS:
    Provisional Patent Applications are never examined and expire after one year from filing.  After filing the Provisional Patent Application in the US patent office, we will await for your engagement to proceed on preparing and filing the corresponding non-provisional, regular US patent application (e.g., utility, or full, patent application) or any international patent applications before the one year deadline after the Provisional Patent Application was filed.
  9. For a better idea of how the patent process works, from beginning to end, have a look at this interactive, visual flow chart of the patent process.

 

Low-cost Oriented Provisional Patents

A good choice when cost is of prime importance due to very tight budget or relatively low confidence in the commercial potential of your idea/product.  Please review the detailed description of our Read our help guide to our PPA services if you are not sure which of our lowest cost Provisional Patent Application services best suites your situation.

To get started with our cost oriented Provisional Patent Application (PPA) service we suggest the following steps be taken towards attaining a PPA with Bay Area IP:

  1. UNDERSTAND OUR LOWEST COST PPA OPTIONS:
    Read our FAQ/Help guide to our Cost Oriented PPA services    .
  2. As you can appreciate, to offer the low flat rates as we do for our cost oriented services, all communications with Bay Area IP must be by email.
  3. ORDER ONLINE:
    After you have identified the cost oriented Provisional Patent Application service that best suits your needs, you order it online. Follow the instructions on the order form, and direct any questions you may have to us through our online form.
  4. INVENTION SUBMISSION:
    Upon receiving  payment, we will promptly email you payment confirmation and our proprietary PPA preparation guide and other information helpful to preparing your provisional patent application.
  5. PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION DRAFTING AND FILING:
    We work with you by email according to the level of service you procured, and once filed, you will have instant “Patent-Pending” status.

 

Requesting an Patent search 

1.     You should review the type of IP search service(s) that you believe you may require.

2.     After you have identified the IP searching service that best suits your needs, your selected IP searching service is ordered online. To procure our flat-fee, prior-art Patent searching services click here.

3.     Follow the instructions on the order form, and direct any questions you may have to us by email.  We are happy to assess your situation and help you determine the type of search that best suits your needs.  If you believe you require an initial consultation, please read about our reduced cost consultation offer at the following link: Initial Consultation Cost.

4.     Upon receving payment, we will email you payment confirmation shortly thereafter.  Your confirmation email will include a special invention disclosure form (IDF) for you to complete which will document your invention in enough detail for us to perform an effective search.  You then securely submit your IDF, and any relevant prior-art (e.g., found patents), and/or documentation (e.g., brochures, photos, articles, drawings, etc.) that you know of to us.

5.     We will promptly perform the search and securely deliver a detailed search report to you, including a patentability opinion if procured.

6.     Upon review of the search results, you can then determine how to proceed.  If the search was a patentability search, and you want to secure patent protection for your invention, we can handle all aspects of the patent application process. 

 

Consulting Services

Generally, Bay Area IP may be retained for consultation in a variety of competency areas including IP development, protection,strategy, marketing, and technology support. If you wish to explore how our proven skills can bring significant value to your efforts, get in touch with us to discuss your unique situation, and how we may be of assistance towards achieving your goals.

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