I'm not sure about Canada, but I did find this govt link online: ised-isde.canada.ca/site/intellectual-property-strategy/en/legal-clinics-program. Warmest regards, -john
Unfortunately no. I’m a Canadian|US patent agent. I specialize in solo and startup clients and have fee schedules that help such. A number of my clients are taking advantage of a new financial support organization here in Quebec. I’ll do some digging if you like. Let me know and I’ll send you my contact details.
Thank you for your short yet informative videos. I have an idea I want to patent but after looking into pro bono then pro se, then learning about the cost, rejections, and timelines, I have decided to forgo the patent and just work with suppliers to try to produce the product without a patent. Does this mean that I would not be eligible for a patent once the product is available in the market?
Thank you so much for watching my video and leaving your comment. It is still possible to obtain a patent even after your product has been made available to the market, but there are strict limitations you should be aware of. Specifically, the United States patent system includes a "grace period" of one year under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(1), which allows an inventor to file a patent application within one year of publicly disclosing, offering for sale, or otherwise making the invention available to the public. During this period, your public disclosure or commercialization of the invention will not be considered "prior art" that bars your ability to obtain a patent. Here’s how this works in practice: 1. Grace Period for Public Disclosure or Sale: If you publicly disclose your invention, demonstrate it, sell it, or even just offer it for sale, you have one year from that date to file a patent application in the United States. After the one-year grace period expires, you will lose the ability to patent the invention because it becomes "prior art" against your own application. 2. Other Countries May Differ: Many jurisdictions outside the United States do not have a grace period or have much stricter rules regarding prior public disclosures. In those countries, public disclosure of your invention before filing a patent application can immediately bar you from obtaining a patent. 3. Supplier Agreements: If you're working with suppliers to produce the product without first filing for a patent, it’s important to ensure that you have strong confidentiality agreements (NDAs) in place. Otherwise, if your invention becomes known publicly or is disclosed without your consent, you may lose the ability to patent it. Good luck with your product! Warmest regards,-john
I have applied for this program and received a 22 question questionnaire about the invention. It's a total headache. They expect you to do all the research and drafting all the paperwork. So, essentially the patent attorney just checks your work yet he gets paid as if he did all the work to help you.
Did you get accepted to the pro bono program? Congratulations! Note, however, that it takes about 30 hours for a patent attorney to write and file an average patent application and they not receiving any compensation when they write your application for free. Good luck with your product!! 🙂 Warmest wishes, -john
@johnferrellesq. Still working on all the drawings, excel spreadsheets, to accompany the answers to the 22 questions. I hope this is not all for nothing.
You do not need to have a PPA (Provisional Patent Application) on file first to be eligible for the PTO Pro Bono program. Good luck with your invention! Warmest wishes, -john
You have to be “dirt poor” to qualify. What a joke. 2024 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Persons in family/household Poverty guideline 1 $15,060 2 $20,440 3 $25,820 4 $31,200 5 $36,580 6 $41,960 7 $47,340 8 $52,720 For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,380 for each additional person.
Anthony, unfortunately this is true and talking with the patent office they recognize the income limits are very low. I would say this program is best suited for students who don't work full time and are just getting started as inventors. Thank you for watching my videos and for adding your comments. -john
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Do you know if there is a probono service like this for Canada?
I'm not sure about Canada, but I did find this govt link online: ised-isde.canada.ca/site/intellectual-property-strategy/en/legal-clinics-program. Warmest regards, -john
Unfortunately no. I’m a Canadian|US patent agent. I specialize in solo and startup clients and have fee schedules that help such. A number of my clients are taking advantage of a new financial support organization here in Quebec. I’ll do some digging if you like. Let me know and I’ll send you my contact details.
Thank you for your short yet informative videos.
I have an idea I want to patent but after looking into pro bono then pro se, then learning about the cost, rejections, and timelines, I have decided to forgo the patent and just work with suppliers to try to produce the product without a patent.
Does this mean that I would not be eligible for a patent once the product is available in the market?
Thank you so much for watching my video and leaving your comment.
It is still possible to obtain a patent even after your product has been made available to the market, but there are strict limitations you should be aware of.
Specifically, the United States patent system includes a "grace period" of one year under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(1), which allows an inventor to file a patent application within one year of publicly disclosing, offering for sale, or otherwise making the invention available to the public. During this period, your public disclosure or commercialization of the invention will not be considered "prior art" that bars your ability to obtain a patent.
Here’s how this works in practice:
1. Grace Period for Public Disclosure or Sale: If you publicly disclose your invention, demonstrate it, sell it, or even just offer it for sale, you have one year from that date to file a patent application in the United States. After the one-year grace period expires, you will lose the ability to patent the invention because it becomes "prior art" against your own application.
2. Other Countries May Differ: Many jurisdictions outside the United States do not have a grace period or have much stricter rules regarding prior public disclosures. In those countries, public disclosure of your invention before filing a patent application can immediately bar you from obtaining a patent.
3. Supplier Agreements: If you're working with suppliers to produce the product without first filing for a patent, it’s important to ensure that you have strong confidentiality agreements (NDAs) in place. Otherwise, if your invention becomes known publicly or is disclosed without your consent, you may lose the ability to patent it.
Good luck with your product!
Warmest regards,-john
I have applied for this program and received a 22 question questionnaire about the invention. It's a total headache. They expect you to do all the research and drafting all the paperwork. So, essentially the patent attorney just checks your work yet he gets paid as if he did all the work to help you.
Did you get accepted to the pro bono program? Congratulations! Note, however, that it takes about 30 hours for a patent attorney to write and file an average patent application and they not receiving any compensation when they write your application for free. Good luck with your product!! 🙂 Warmest wishes, -john
@johnferrellesq. Still working on all the drawings, excel spreadsheets, to accompany the answers to the 22 questions. I hope this is not all for nothing.
@@johnferrellesq. I am still working on producing the drawings and excel spreadsheets to accompany the 22 answers.
The whole patent process is uber/over complicated
Totally agree! 😊
should I have a provisional patent application submitted
You do not need to have a PPA (Provisional Patent Application) on file first to be eligible for the PTO Pro Bono program. Good luck with your invention! Warmest wishes, -john
You have to be “dirt poor” to qualify. What a joke.
2024 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Persons in family/household Poverty guideline
1 $15,060
2 $20,440
3 $25,820
4 $31,200
5 $36,580
6 $41,960
7 $47,340
8 $52,720
For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,380 for each additional person.
Anthony, unfortunately this is true and talking with the patent office they recognize the income limits are very low. I would say this program is best suited for students who don't work full time and are just getting started as inventors. Thank you for watching my videos and for adding your comments. -john