What I learned

For a long time I was under the impression that only very intellectual people or large companies and organizations had the ability to file patents, however through the class and our discussions I learned that I was quite wrong. I found out that not only is it very possible for anyone to file a patent, but what, when, and how one can be filed.

I learned that patents are typically either a method or process for achieving or producing some item or an invention itself. An example of a method was the slide-to-unlock patent, which was a method to unlock a device by sliding to unlock. And an example of patent on an invention was the beer umbrella we discussed in class, which allows one to keep their beer cool. Through the beer example we see that even though the idea seems useless to most people, the patent just has to be portrayed in a manner that explains why it’s useful to others. I learned for a patent to be accepted it must follow three criteria, which state the idea must be novel, non-obvious, and useful. 

One very important fact I learned was that you don’t have to invent or manufacture the item to get the patent approved. Therefore once the idea strikes you, you can begin the steps for filing your patent such as making the claims and drawings. And you should definitely get started as soon as possible because they could take quite some time to get back to you regarding your patent and often times reject it the first time. As Dr. Kasznik discussed in her guest lecture, the patent system has changed from a first to invent to a first to file system, which means you want to be the firs to file!

In the next blog I will discuss why I believe all this is applicable for my future.