If you have an idea for an invention that you envision being made by yourself or by someone else to make a profit, you will probably think about having a patent. You will have a very common question in mind – Do I really need a patent? It is highly recommended to go for a patent if you have a profitable idea. But at times, it is not easy to decide and the decision is to be taken only by you.
There are many criteria that will help you understand if you need a patent or not.
Here are some of them.
Who will be manufacturing?
A very simple way to decide whether you need to file a patent application is finding if your invention is something you want to manufacture or license to another company for manufacturing. If you are manufacturing yourself, you may or may not require a patent but if you are licensing your invention to another business for manufacturing, then you definitely need to file a patent application.
Level of complexity
Another thing you should note is the level of complexity. If you are inventing something big, you will definitely need to license as you practically cannot do it alone and you should go for a patent. But if it is a small invention, you can make it yourself and do not seek a patent. However, the choice is always yours.
Shelf life
If you are producing a product, you should consider its shelf life. Products with short shelf life mainly do not need protection from competition. According to service providers who deal with patent research/analytics and prepare patent infringement claim charts, getting a patent will take a couple of years after filing the application. So, it is important to think about the shelf life of the product. If you have planned to invent a toy, apparel or a device with short shelf life, then you may decide to spend your resources on marketing instead of filing for a patent.
What is the product’s future value?
Deciding whether to patent an idea or not also depends on the value you give it and what is the projected future value. If your invention has value in real, then you should seek the help of a patent professional to help you file a patent application and help you throughout. You should think about your idea in the same way as you are protecting your personal property. Patent is similar to insurance which protects your valuable items. Patent acts as an insurance protecting your idea.
Hopefully you have a good idea now to consider when you need a patent for your idea. But remember, there are more chances of your idea getting copied if your idea is more successful. So getting a patent makes a lot of sense.
