With this information the inventor can critically evaluate what the patent attorney is doing and more fully understand what the patent attorney is attempting to communicate. Most technical personnel are quite familiar with reading and interpreting conventional technical literature, but are not familiar with the style and format found in patents. It is important that the technical staff understand the nature of the patent literature, and be able to read it critically to determine what is actually covered by the patent and what is in the public domain. It is not simply a matter of obtaining a patent. This activity and participation can also stimulate the inventor to think of other variations or improvements to the invention that can be incorporated into the patent application.
Stronger patents minimize the chances of losing the patent if contested in the courts.