How to Authenticate Inventions

You can file your patent online to authenticate it.

The best way to authenticate and protect your invention is to obtain a patent for it. Patents are legal documents obtained from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A patent is your exclusive right over the invention. Patents can be used to protect others from taking or using your idea or borrowing from your invention for any purpose.

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Instructions

- 1
  
  Contact the USPTO for information on how to obtain a patent. You may also want to consider consulting a lawyer with some understanding in patent law.
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  Search for patents to ensure your invention is original and has not been claimed by anyone else. Go to the Patent Full-Text Database to find a full list of patented inventions and designs. Your invention cannot be similar to another in the structure or function.
- 3
  
  Determine what type of application you want to file. The USPTO provides many types of patents, including a provisional patent that will protect your invention for up to 12 months, title of invention, a brief summary or background of the invention or a detailed description of the event. The type of patent you file will depend on how advanced or progressive your invention idea is. You may only have drawings and plans for the invention, or you may have already begun your marketing strategy.
- 4
  
  Fill out the forms for your patent, and pay the fee. The forms and the fee will depend on the type of patent you file. You can have your patent protected in the U.S. only or purchase international protection to authenticate it. Once it is filed in full, and your patent has been observed and approved, you can rest assured knowing that you have authenticated your original invention.