Paul Contino 1/21/26 Paul Contino 1/21/26

Should I Apply for a Patent?

One of the main questions I help to answer is if you should be applying for a patent. The answer is: it depends.

Paul Contino 1/20/25 Paul Contino 1/20/25

The “Guarantee” of Obtaining a Patent

Many clients express a desire to “guarantee” obtaining a patent on their idea or invention. However, the expectation of guaranteeing a patent is unrealistic. If a patent attorney or agent, or patent expert or consultant, or prior art searcher offers this, then tread with caution.

Paul Contino 7/3/24 Paul Contino 7/3/24

Inventors: Connecting with the Right People

As an independent inventor, venturing off on your own in search of a patent can be quite a daunting journey. Fortunately, there are a wealth of resources and professionals available to assist along the way.

Paul Contino 4/30/24 Paul Contino 4/30/24

The USPTO Patent Search Strategy: Step 5— Citation References

Why not enlist the help of others that have already done the work to help you along in your search for prior art?

Paul Contino 4/22/24 Paul Contino 4/22/24

The USPTO Patent Search Strategy: Step 3— Patent Literature Review

So you feel pretty good about your keyword search results and you are ready to investigate just how closely (or not) the patents you have uncovered match your invention.

Paul Contino 4/16/24 Paul Contino 4/16/24

Using AI for Prior Art and Patent Searching

AI as a search tool appears here to stay. However, there are some concerns that prior art searchers should be aware of when researching the patentability of a particular invention.

Paul Contino 4/15/24 Paul Contino 4/15/24

The USPTO Patent Search Strategy: An Introduction

So you have an idea that you believe is worth patenting. Fantastic. What are your next steps?