Q. Exactly what does your company do?
A. Patent Assistance Worldwide does what our name implies. We assist inventors in protecting their product ideas through our network of registered patent attorneys and patent agents.
Q. What is a Patent?
A. A patent is a limited monopoly granted to the inventor of a new product idea by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The invention is reviewed by a patent examiner, who then makes a decision whether or not to grant the patent protection.
Q. What is the difference between a utility patent and a design patent?
A. A utility patent may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, compositions of matter, or any new useful improvement thereof. A design patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.
Q. What is intellectual property?
A. Intellectual property consists of three categories of protection which are a patent, a trademark or a copyright. Patents protect the design and function of tangible products. Trademarks protect logos like those seen on large fast food restaurants (think golden arches) and coffee houses, while copyrights protect written materials such as books, poetry or instruction manuals.
Q. Do I get a patent after a patent search?
A. A registered attorney will perform a patent search of artwork prior to any patent application to make sure your designs are patentable. The attorney will then render a legal opinion of your search and a recommendation to pursue a patent or not. A patent agent can also perform the search but cannot render a legal opinion.
Q. What is patent pending status?
A. Also referred to as a "provisional patent", a patent pending allows you to file for a patent without formally making a claim, oath, declaration or disclosure of art work. The provisional establishes an effective date of conception via application and provides the inventor one (1) year of protection, giving the inventor time to further develop the idea, continue studying the market, find money to continue development or continue networking and negotiating business agreements. A utility patent must be filed prior to expiration of the provisional patent.
Q. Will Patent Assistance Worldwide help me market my idea?
A. Patent Assistance Worldwide does not engage in the business of invention development or marketing services. However, we'll select an affiliate licensing company to develop a marketing and support plan that enables you to submit your new invention to industry.
Q. What is the difference between Trademark and Copyright?
A. Trademarks create an identity for goods or services through a symbol, phrase or design and serve to distinguish it from competitors. Copyrights offer protection to original works of authorship, or written works in the musical, literary and dramatic works. The duration of protection of copyrighted work is for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years.
Q. If a manufacturer buys my idea, how do I make money?
A. There are many options to negotiating with a manufacturer. One option is to release your idea to the manufacturing company for a specific amount of money. They would purchase all rights to the product. Another would be a licensing agreement which entitles you to "royalties", a percentage paid to the inventor of total sales. Licensing agreement are very complex legal documents that should always be reviewed by an attorney. Our affiliate Licensing Companies will assist you in all negotiations with interested manufacturers on a CONTINGENCY FEE BASIS!
Q. How much does it cost to use your services? What's the bottom line?
A. Every new idea submitted to Patent Assistance Worldwide is unique and given individual consideration by our review team. Every market is also different and constantly changing. Therefore, we must have a thorough understanding of each product being considered so that we can accurately determine fees. Additionally, an experienced product review team performs a preliminary review of all inventions accepted by our company. If your invention is approved and accepted, all fees are given in writing and you are never under any obligation to pay for any of our services. Our Product Innovation Consultants will take the time to explain everything to you thoroughly.
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