Can You Patent A Process For Business Manufacturing?

Inventors across the globe are looking to patent a process for business manufacturing operations. A specialized type of utility application – a process patent protects your methods for altering the composition, functionality, or characteristics of a given material. It also extends to the technology you use throughout proprietary business methods. If your novel processes have resulted in new approaches of conducting business, this is the perfect form of intellectual property (IP) for you. As a business owner, you should know how to draft, file, and prosecute a patent for your commercial processes. Read on to learn if you can patent a process for business manufacturing.  

Hire A Patent Lawyer

First and foremost, hire an experienced process patent attorney to help you acquire your application. Filing a patent on your own can be incredibly time-consuming, stressful, and overwhelming. Not to mention, it can distract you from more pertinent daily tasks and responsibilities. So, work with an expert attorney – who has years of experience filing applications just like yours. With their process knowledge and attention to detail, IP filing will be much faster, more efficient, and highly-convenient. Indeed, hire a business method patent lawyer to guide you through the drafting and filing process.

Establish Patentability

Once you’ve found a knowledgeable process patent attorney, you need to ensure that you’re eligible for intellectual property protection. Basically, patentability emphasizes the chances of your IP application getting approved. To qualify, your business methods must qualify as being new, novel, and non-obvious. Ask your attorney to conduct a professional patent search report beforehand to identify any comparable prior art references. This investigative document will highlight any published or pending IP assets that are similar to your business process. Surely, determine the chances of USPTO approval when you patent a process for business manufacturing.

Prepare To Apply

Next, start preparing to apply for your business manufacturing process patent. Get everything ready and in-order for a successful submission. Start off by planning for costs. Ultimately, you need a clear idea of how much the end-to-end IP prosecution process should cost. Be sure to account for flat rates, search report costs, and USPTO examination fees. Next, get a better understanding of how long the entire process will take. This way, you can weigh the benefits of expedited filing options – depending on what you need. Now is also a great time to start thinking about international protection options. Certainly, prepare to apply for your business process patent and maximize your chances of success.

File Your Application

At this point, it is time to submit your official process patent application. Before you file a full-blown utility patent, you may want to start with a provisional application. A provisional patent application (PPA) provides you limited protection for a brief, one-year pendency. With a PPA, you’ll get to market your business process with a “Patent Pending” label. Once this expires, file your utility, non-provisional patent application. Definitely, file your application to protect your business manufacturing process with intellectual property.

Celebrate!

Now, you are ready to wait for response from the USPTO – and get ready to celebrate good news. Once your process patent is approved, you’ll have exclusive rights over your business model for up to twenty years. The only thing left to do it pay issuing fees to the USPTO. You’ll also be charged maintenance fees after 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years of patent ownership. Absolutely, celebrating great news is a rewarding final step when filing for a business process patent.

There are several key steps to patent a process for your business manufacturing operations. First and foremost, hire an expert patent attorney Los Angeles CA to help you navigate the drafting, filing, and prosecution process. Next, establish patentability – or determine your chances of getting approved from the USPTO.  At this point, start getting ready to apply for protection. Once you’re ready and confident, file your application and await approval from the US Patent Office. Then, just await USPTO response and prepare to celebrate great news. Follow the points above to learn if you can patent a process for business manufacturing.