Should I pay for / do a patent search before filing for a preliminary patent or is it safer to just file the preliminary patent (first)?
might as well
>>1148835
This is being a little paranoid, but what happens if someone files a patent in the meantime, or my patent lawyer thinks this is such a good idea that he calls his buddy in the next state over and tells him to file a patent for it?
Bamp.
Difficult to know. What is it you would like to patent?
>>1148807
you or someone is going to pay for both eventually if it's a good idea.
provisional patent is only good for 12 months. The real patent can take 3-6 years to grant from initial filing. Just file the provisional to get your priority date and monetize your idea. You won't get an immediate benefit from the patent search
now what's your patent about tell us faggot
>>1151290
what exactly do you mean by monetize my idea anon? market the invention as patent pending?
>>1151461
make money on the idea selling shit whatever it is
Sorry a chip warming system already exists
>>1148807
Generally, your better off spending your time and money bringing your product to market and selling the fucking thing. Getting a patent for most products is a fucking waste of time and energy. Your idea isn't likely to change shit, and there's plenty of money to go around. So save your money, just build and ship, rinse and repeat.
Do you guys think LegalZoom or similar are fine for a provisional application?