Patent vs Trademark vs Copyright
Which one protects your work? A plain-language guide to the three main types of US intellectual property and what each one covers.
Read the guide →Patent & IP guides
Start here. Each guide explains a part of the patent and IP process in plain words.
How to File a Patent Application
The steps to file a US patent application, from prior-art search to filing, explained plainly for first-time inventors.
Read the guide →Provisional vs Non-Provisional Patent
What a provisional patent application does, what a non-provisional adds, and how the two fit together to hold your filing date.
Read the guide →How Long Does a Patent Take?
Realistic timelines for a US patent — from filing to grant — and what affects how long examination takes.
Read the guide →How Much Does a Patent Cost?
Honest flat-fee ranges for a US patent — search, drafting, filing, and USPTO fees — and what drives the number.
Read the guide →What Happens After You File a Patent
USPTO examination explained: office actions, responses, allowance, and what an applicant should expect after filing.
Read the guide →How to Register a Trademark
The steps to register a US trademark for a brand name or logo, from a clearance search to filing with the USPTO.
Read the guide →How Much Does a Trademark Cost?
Flat-fee ranges and USPTO filing fees for a US trademark, and what makes the cost go up or down.
Read the guide →Utility vs Design Patent
The difference between protecting how something works (utility) and how it looks (design), with plain examples.
Read the guide →How to Protect an Idea
What you can and can't protect, why an idea alone isn't enough, and the practical first steps to protect an invention.
Read the guide →Patent Agent vs Patent Attorney
When a registered patent agent is enough and when you need a licensed attorney — and what each can do for you.
Read the guide →Copyright vs Trademark
How copyright and trademark protect different things, and which one fits a name, a logo, a book, or a piece of software.
Read the guide →Thinking about protecting an idea?
Get matched, free, with a licensed patent attorney, registered patent agent, or trademark attorney who fits your need and your language. You compare and choose who to hire — and you confirm the flat fee before any work starts.
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