Epilogue

• Author: Dylan O. Adams
• Profession: Seattle-based patent attorney
• Pages: 249-252

249

Epilogue

I hope this book inspires you. Regardless of whether you are plan-

ning to invent a revolutionary new product, already have a developed

prototype, or have a patent application on le, I hope this book has

expanded your view of how patents can be used to add signicant

value to your company. Moreover, I hope this book has given you a

roadmap for both the immediate and long-term steps necessary for

adequately protecting your valuable ideas and i nventions.

Much of the information of this book is known only by seasoned

patent attorneys or people with years of experience with patents. e

information provided can help you maximize t he potential of your

intellectual property a nd avoid common patent mistakes. Unfortu-

nately, many inventors and entrepreneurs that are new to the patent

process learn the pitfalls descr ibed in this book the hard way, unknow-

ingly forfeiting or substantially compromising their patent rights.

While some are able to recover and avoid future mistakes, others never

get a second chance. Some issues might become apparent early in the

life of a business, whereas others can lie hidden for years.

As you now know, inventions should ideally be held in secret until

a patent application is led. Patent rights in nearly all foreign coun-

tries are immediately lost upon a rst public use, public disclosure, or

oers-for-sale, and U.S. patent rights are lost one year aer such activi-

ties. Filing a patent application as soon as possible is also important

because the United States now gives priority to inventors who le rst,

not to those who invent rst. Many inventions can be protected at early

stages of development—it is only necessary to have enough detail to

allow a patent attorney to dra a patent application that would enable

one of ordinary skill i n the art to make and use the invention. A work-

PatentsDemystified-F-10012015.indd 249 10/1/15 4:09 PM