The company's Web site is designed to help small businesses maximize the value of their intellectual property. These innovators and many others prove patents can be devastatingly effective in securing market leadership, particularly in new markets. Here are some quick tips to help e-commerce entrepreneurs get their feet wet in the patent arena and enjoy the protective waters of patent law. Understand what is protectable legally.
Utility patents protect inventions that are useful, original and non-obvious.
The usefulness test verifies the item provides utility. Originality requires that the item be different from existing inventions available to the public anywhere in the world. The non-obvious test requires the patent examiner to determine whether a person skilled in the relevant area of technology would find the invention obvious, given existing works. Scan your intangible assets under development to identify potential patents. Think broadly about all areas of your technology.