However, a reasonable U.S. patent search is worthwhile. A searcher should send you copies of related patents found in the search. Almost every search finds related patents, although they may not disclose your invention exactly or prevent you from patenting it. It covers the mechanics, function, and use of an invention. It can be strong if a particular appearance is unique and important in marketing the invention.
Some time periods are shorter for design patents than for utility patents.
Convention foreign patents, within a year. It is less expensive than a regular patent application in the short run, and buys time. Patent attorneys and agents must establish competence in physical science for admission to the examination. Patent agents cannot provide litigation, licensing, copyright, or trademark services. However, competitors hesitate to copy a product displaying this notice, since a patent may issue at any time, and halt their production before recovery of tooling costs.