Patent It Yourself-The Book-Tenth Edition (Spring 2004)
The first version of Patent It Yourself-the book (McGraw-Hill 1979) was called "an outstanding self-help guide" by the prestigious Library Journal and "very worthwhile" by Dr. Buckminster Fuller. Since then it's been rewritten, expanded, tripled in size, and republished by Nolo in their easy-to-understand style. It has been selected by the MacMillan and McGraw-Hill Book Clubs. Over 250,000 copies have been sold!
Patent It Yourself has once again been rewritten, expanded, and fully updated for the Tenth Edition (Spring 2004). It is now more than ever the most definitive and complete do-it-yourself patent book ever written and the only up-to-date one available. It's written in plain language in easy-to-grasp sections with copious examples and explanations. Also it has detailed instructions for trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, software, etc. Further it has new and comprehensive forms, the latest fees, rules, laws, websites, online searching facilities, new amendment format, the 'Rocket Docket' for expedited design patent application examination, the Non-Publication Request, the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, in over 420 pages (paperback). It includes a sample patent application, a patentability argument, a master flowchart for handling a response to the Patent Office, a license agreement and other legal documents, lists of other useful books, a glossary of technical words, cartoons, and all needed forms (including proprietary, consultant's, and joint inventor's agreements). Moreover it includes comprehensive, expanded checklists and inventor's commandments, additional and improved charts and examples, foreign-filing instructions, and a huge index. Further it has the latest on business and software patents, the "GATT" and "AIPA" changes, including the new 20-year term, full instructions, including a checklist for filing a PPA (Provisional Patent Application), and full instructions for the new RCE (Request For Continued Examination). The Index has been expanded and redone; it now has about 2500 direct and intuitive entries to enable you to look up virtually anything with ease.
Doing It Yourself: If you can describe your invention with drawings, and can follow step-by-step detailed instructions, Patent It Yourself is a must! It will enable you to prepare, file, and obtain your own patent at a cost of about $1000, rather than the $3000 to $6000 most attorneys charge (at $100 to $300 an hour!). Also you'll learn how to do the job correctly and in accordance with your wishes. Moreover you'll learn how to invent, how to choose the proper form of coverage (patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, etc.), how to secure initial rights, how to use the Document Disclosure Program and how to file a Provisional Patent Application, how to market your invention, how to foreign file, whether to use "invention developers", how to maintain your patent, and how to profit from and license your creation. Further it will answer any question you have, or tell you where to get the answer, without incurring a costly attorney's bill.
Using An Attorney: Even if you use an attorney, you'll still find Patent It Yourself invaluable. It tells you what's going on and what you should be aware of at every stage of the process (including pitfalls which even attorneys can miss) and how to check and improve your attorney's work in writing claims, arguments, advantages, etc. Also it tells you how to find "discount attorneys" who charge half of what downtown attorneys charge. It's written by a practicing patent attorney, electrical engineer, college instructor, and author of the "Patents" section of the World Book Encyclopedia. He's had over 40 years' patent and licensing experience-as a patent examiner and corporate and independent patent attorney.
Chapters:
Appendices: 1. Abbreviations, 2. Resources:
Govt. Pubs., Patent Websites, and Books Of Use and Interest,
3. Glossaries: Technical Terms and Patent Terms, 4. Fee Schedule, 5. PTO Phones
and Internet Sites,
6. Quick-Reference Timing Chart, 7. Tear-Out or Copyable Forms, 7. Comprehensive
Index