Why You Should Work with a Patent Attorney

• Author: Dylan O. Adams
• Profession: Seattle-based patent attorney
• Pages: 105-114

105

7

Why You Should Work

with a Patent Attorney

“An examination of this application reveals that applicant

is unfamiliar with patent prosecution procedure. While an

applicant may prosecute the application ... lack of skill in

this eld usually acts as a liability in aording the max imum

protection for the invention disclosed. Applicant is advised to

secure the services of a registered patent attor ney or agent to

prosecute the application, since the value of a patent is largely

dependent upon skilled preparation and prosecution.”

—USPTO Manual of Patent Examinin g Procedure § 401—

Standard USPTO war ning to inventors representing themselves.

Most inventors are capable of draing a patent application that meets

the basic ling requirements set forth by the USPTO. Applicants that

represent themselves, known as pro se applicants, are oen able to suc-

cessfully get issued patents. In fact, ma ny books1 are available to assist

1. For example, Patent It Yourself: Your Step -by-Step Guide to Filing at th e U.S. Patent Oce,

by David Pressma n, Nolo Press.

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