Design Patents
Step 2: Search for patents similar to your idea
As you may have discovered, the problem with most great ideas is that someone else has already thought of it. To be patentable, an invention must be novel and non-obvious around the world. The critical question is this: has someone else already applied for a patent? That’s the question A+ Legal will answer for you.
For you to obtain the most protection available under the law, we suggest that you order a U.S. and foreign patent search. A U.S. and foreign patent search will tell you which inventions are similar to your invention.
On your behalf, we will go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (located near our office in the Washington, D.C. area) and search relevant records by computer and by hand. Going there in person gives us the ability to consult directly with Patent Examiners if necessary. After identifying the classes appropriate to your invention, we then hand search the relevant foreign patent records available to the Patent Examiners.
All applicable phone discussions with you, patent copies, and mailing costs will be included in the price we quote you for conducting the search. We will let you know whether you have a chance of obtaining a patent.
If your idea has a chance of being patented, we will then take steps to protect your rights until the relevant patents are obtained.
Go to Step 3
Protect your idea in anticipation of receiving
one or more patents.
| Did You Know? |
Your invention may already be patented.
Public users may perform preliminary searches of patent information in a variety of formats including on-line, microfilm, and print at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Public Search Facility located in Alexandria, VA. State of the art computer workstations provide automated searching of patents issued from 1790 to the current week of issue. Full document text may be searched on U.S. patents issued since 1971 and OCR text from 1920 to 1970. U.S. patent images from 1790 to the present may be retrieved for viewing or printing. Some foreign patent documents are available.
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Contact our Patent
Professionals to ensure you complete the patent filing process correctly or for violation of your patent rights.
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