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2. Conditions for a patent
In order for your invention to be patentable, it must satisfy certain conditions. It must be:
new
inventive
indusrially applicable
1. Considerations before filing
Determine how you wish to make use of a future patent, should you obtain one. Count on investing quite a lot of time, money and effort. Remember that even if your invention is patentable, it does not necessarily have commercial value.
To additionally protect your idea you might consider supplementing your patent protection via other forms of intellectual property rights. In some cases you may also need to file several patent applications (for example, if your idea involves a major system with many components, each of which needs individual protection).
You may also consider making a prototype of your invention to confirm that it works. Not only will this help you determine whether your invention is up to par, but a professionally built prototype may also be useful in dealing with potential business partners. Note that the procedure for applying for a patent is primarily a written exercise and that you do not normally submit any apparatus or models. To bring your idea closer to reality, you will likely need to contact outside parties for advice, contacts and finance. If you do, be prepared and clear about what your market prospects are, what you need and how to minimize the risks you run when you disclose your idea to potential business partners
3. Novelty
The invention must not be known before you submit your patent application. It does not matter how, by whom or where in the world it has been disclosed. The invention is considered to be know even if you are the one who has used or published it.
4. Inventive step.
The invention must involve an inventive step, which means that it must differ significantly form what is already known
5. Industial applicablity.
Industrial applicability means that the invention must be technical of nature, have a technical effect and be reproducible.
Technical of nature means that the invention complies with the accepted laws of physics. It must be tangible such as a product or a process and not a theory.
Technical effect means that the invention must work and solve a problem in a technical way. The effect does not be new or better than existing solutions.
Reproducibility means that the result should be the same each time the invention is used.
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