Continuation applications
Don’t like having your own inventions used against you? Before your patent issues, consider filing a continuation application.
Stephen E. Zweig, PhD JD, Patent Attorney
Don’t like having your own inventions used against you? Before your patent issues, consider filing a continuation application.
Outside of the US, foreign patent offices will often use your own prior patent filings against you! Avoid this trap by planning carefully.
Some open source software licenses can be harmful, so consider your business model before choosing what type of open source software to use.
Medical device patents should have a lot of detail; try to teach alternative approaches and consider both US and European patent rules.
Patent non-publication requests are particularly useful for business method type software patents, because you can preserve your work as a trade secret if you don’t get a patent.
Software patents that deal with technical effects, physical parameters, and improving computer function are favored, but business methods are disfavored.