DIY Patent Pending™
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DIY Patent Pending Workshops
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"Patent Pending" with Expert Guided DIY Provisional Patent Applications
Are you an inventor or innovator who wants to draft and file your own provisional patent application using expert, step-by-step guidance from an experienced patent attorney, without actually hiring an attorney?
PRO-APP™ Patent Workshop participant success...
Bryce H:
Jeff Holman’s Pro-App provisional patent writing workshop is a must-have learning experience, especially if you want to invent and bring multiple ideas to the market.
In his course, you learn what is important to include and what does not need to be added in your provisional patent. Jeff is patient and has a well laid-out course, with a step-by-step approach to make it easy for you to learn and apply.
Trevor B:
I need to say a few words about Jeff Holman and his workshop.
First, his workshop is an excellent resource for those who want to DIY provisional patent applications.
I high recommend it! Jeff is genuinely interested in helping inventors! Second, his methodology is second to none! Jeff has so much experience as both a patent attorney and an inventor that he has thought of the best way to help others with DIY provisional patent applications.
Finally, with Jeff’s help I was able to file several provisional patent applications. His help was invaluable, and I can honestly say that I could not have done it without him!
Joe H:
I attended Jeff Holman's patent class and then successfully filed a provisional patent application. In the course I learned what plans and descriptions were needed for my invention.
This saved me lots of work on the drawings and description. More importantly had I filed before the course I would have made my application unable to defend and probably rejected by an examiner. For me Jeff's course was invaluable.
Why DIY your provisional patent application?
The provisional patent application focuses on the technical details of your invention. And nobody knows your invention better than you--the inventor.
By the time you communicate your invention to a patent attorney, you've already burned through a lot of money. I know. I'm a patent attorney. I've helped hundreds of inventors get patents since 2001. I'm not opposed to using an attorney, but there are times when you can be more efficient in your innovation process.
Should you DIY all types of utility patents applications?
No. Never prepare your own non-provisional patent application. I've never seen one prepared by an inventor that was ready to file. Even experienced patent attorneys struggle to get the right language, technical detail, and claim scope over several drafts of a non-provisional patent application.
You can prepare and file your own provisional patent application. And you probably should. The provisional patent application process is a great advantage for products that are going through technical and market validation.
When should you file a provisional patent application?
Don't innovate in a vacuum.
When you have "patent pending" status, you can confidently seek technical and market feedback on the aspects of your invention that are "patent pending." This is critical to good product development cycles. You don't want to protect only your initial ideas, and don't get stuck protecting only your final design.
Provisional patent applications allow you to get incremental "patent pending" status as you innovate, with input from others along the way.
You should seek "patent pending" at the following stages in your innovation journey:
1 - Before you begin sharing your idea without confidentiality
2 - Before you begin selling or offering your invention for sale
3 - Each time you make a significant improvement to your design
4 - Before you talk with industry experts or potential licensing deals
5 - Before approaching manufacturers, even for early prototypes
6 - Before pitching your business to an investor
7 - Before sharing your invention in a business competition
8 - After you finalize the design for commercialization
If you plan ahead, filing 1-3 provisional patent applications throughout your product development process will be sufficient. You don't have to file a new application at every single stage. And even if you file multiple applications, it will still cost you less than hiring an attorney or paying an online legal services company.
Why don't inventors file provisional patent applications more frequently?
It's simply a matter of cost. If you have to engage a patent attorney and spend thousands of dollars every time you make incremental improvements to your product design, you would bankrupt your business before you launch your product.
However, if you can duplicate the provisional patent application process yourself, then you could easily file enough provisional patent applications to cover your entire product development process for a few hundred dollars in government filing fees.
What if you don't file anything?
The provisional patent application is critical to protecting your invention. If you publicly disclose your invention, sell it, try to sell it, or do a number of other things before filing, you will definitely lose patent rights in your invention.
You might be able to save some U.S. patent rights under the current 12-month grace period, but you will lose virtually all patent rights in foreign countries.
Don't jeopardize your global patent rights unintentionally or recklessly when you don't have to.
Why worry about foreign patent rights?
You don't know up front whether you can create a viable market for your product. Why would you do anything to jeopardize your patent rights in foreign countries, which might be key to getting your product manufactured and distributed, even if your primary market is in the United States.
If you're not thinking globally now, maybe you should keep innovating until you come up with a product worth global commercialization.
How difficult is it to draft and file a provisional patent application?
The PRO-APP™ Workshop walks through the entire process from start to finish. We've learned that inventors have different objectives and interests, so there are four versions of the workshop:
PRO-APP™ FULL Workshop
The most detailed instructions and examples in 5 full modules over 16 hours, following every step and process of and experienced patent attorney. If you can't dedicate 16 hours of your time, don't choose this option.
PRO-APP™ FAST Workshop
Select modules from the FULL workshop, focusing on getting through the drafting process in 5 short modules over 8 hours, without all of the contextual information.
PRO-APP™ FILE Workshop
Just the basics--a "cover sheet provisional" based on your documentation using a proprietary Innovation Disclosure Form (IDF) and examples to walk through the actual filing process on the US Patent & Trademark Office website (EFS-Web). If you can't dedicate 2 hours of your time, either hire a patent attorney or throw caution to the wind and skip the whole process.
PRO-APP™ FREE Workshop
Enough to document your innovation using our proprietary Innovation Disclosure Form (IDF) in about 1 hour. If you're unsure whether to DIY your provisional patent application, get started here. If you're going to hire a patent attorney, at least take your completed IDF to save some time (and money, hopefully).
How do you get started?
Just sign up, log in, and start today. Each workshop participant receives all the online video access, downloadable reference materials, interactive tools, and instruction necessary to complete the workshop objectives.
You choose the version that is right for your situation--they will all get you "patent pending" status, with different levels of detail and instruction.
Why not just hire a patent attorney?
I'm not going to tell you, "Don't hire a patent attorney." If you have the finances to engage an attorney, and your innovation process doesn't require iterative product design cycles, you prefer to pay somebody else to do the heavy lifting, or you simply don't think you can do it, then hiring a patent attorney might be your best option.
Ironically, if you were to hire me, I would include access to this course and ask you to go through this course anyway. Why would I do that? Here are the top reasons:
- The PRO-APP™ Workshop answers the questions I've already answered thousands of times before for other inventors
- The PRO-APP™ Workshop helps inventors understand the expectations, timelines, costs, and critical decisions inherent in the patent process
- The PRO-APP™ Workshop empowers inventors to contribute to the patent process, resulting in a more cohesive collaboration between technical and legal processes
The provisional patent application focuses on the technical details of your invention. And nobody knows your invention better than you--the inventor.
By the time you communicate your invention to a patent attorney, you've already burned through a lot of money. I know. I'm a patent attorney. I've helped hundreds of inventors get patents since 2001. I'm not opposed to using an attorney, but there are times when you can be more efficient in your innovation process.
Should you DIY all types of utility patents applications?
No. Never prepare your own non-provisional patent application. I've never seen one prepared by an inventor that was ready to file. Even experienced patent attorneys struggle to get the right language, technical detail, and claim scope over several drafts of a non-provisional patent application.
You can prepare and file your own provisional patent application. And you probably should. The provisional patent application process is a great advantage for products that are going through technical and market validation.
When should you file a provisional patent application?
Don't innovate in a vacuum.
When you have "patent pending" status, you can confidently seek technical and market feedback on the aspects of your invention that are "patent pending." This is critical to good product development cycles. You don't want to protect only your initial ideas, and don't get stuck protecting only your final design.
Provisional patent applications allow you to get incremental "patent pending" status as you innovate, with input from others along the way.
You should seek "patent pending" at the following stages in your innovation journey:
1 - Before you begin sharing your idea without confidentiality
2 - Before you begin selling or offering your invention for sale
3 - Each time you make a significant improvement to your design
4 - Before you talk with industry experts or potential licensing deals
5 - Before approaching manufacturers, even for early prototypes
6 - Before pitching your business to an investor
7 - Before sharing your invention in a business competition
8 - After you finalize the design for commercialization
If you plan ahead, filing 1-3 provisional patent applications throughout your product development process will be sufficient. You don't have to file a new application at every single stage. And even if you file multiple applications, it will still cost you less than hiring an attorney or paying an online legal services company.
Why don't inventors file provisional patent applications more frequently?
It's simply a matter of cost. If you have to engage a patent attorney and spend thousands of dollars every time you make incremental improvements to your product design, you would bankrupt your business before you launch your product.
However, if you can duplicate the provisional patent application process yourself, then you could easily file enough provisional patent applications to cover your entire product development process for a few hundred dollars in government filing fees.
What if you don't file anything?
The provisional patent application is critical to protecting your invention. If you publicly disclose your invention, sell it, try to sell it, or do a number of other things before filing, you will definitely lose patent rights in your invention.
You might be able to save some U.S. patent rights under the current 12-month grace period, but you will lose virtually all patent rights in foreign countries.
Don't jeopardize your global patent rights unintentionally or recklessly when you don't have to.
Why worry about foreign patent rights?
You don't know up front whether you can create a viable market for your product. Why would you do anything to jeopardize your patent rights in foreign countries, which might be key to getting your product manufactured and distributed, even if your primary market is in the United States.
If you're not thinking globally now, maybe you should keep innovating until you come up with a product worth global commercialization.
How difficult is it to draft and file a provisional patent application?
The PRO-APP™ Workshop walks through the entire process from start to finish. We've learned that inventors have different objectives and interests, so there are four versions of the workshop:
PRO-APP™ FULL Workshop
The most detailed instructions and examples in 5 full modules over 16 hours, following every step and process of and experienced patent attorney. If you can't dedicate 16 hours of your time, don't choose this option.
PRO-APP™ FAST Workshop
Select modules from the FULL workshop, focusing on getting through the drafting process in 5 short modules over 8 hours, without all of the contextual information.
PRO-APP™ FILE Workshop
Just the basics--a "cover sheet provisional" based on your documentation using a proprietary Innovation Disclosure Form (IDF) and examples to walk through the actual filing process on the US Patent & Trademark Office website (EFS-Web). If you can't dedicate 2 hours of your time, either hire a patent attorney or throw caution to the wind and skip the whole process.
PRO-APP™ FREE Workshop
Enough to document your innovation using our proprietary Innovation Disclosure Form (IDF) in about 1 hour. If you're unsure whether to DIY your provisional patent application, get started here. If you're going to hire a patent attorney, at least take your completed IDF to save some time (and money, hopefully).
How do you get started?
Just sign up, log in, and start today. Each workshop participant receives all the online video access, downloadable reference materials, interactive tools, and instruction necessary to complete the workshop objectives.
You choose the version that is right for your situation--they will all get you "patent pending" status, with different levels of detail and instruction.
Why not just hire a patent attorney?
I'm not going to tell you, "Don't hire a patent attorney." If you have the finances to engage an attorney, and your innovation process doesn't require iterative product design cycles, you prefer to pay somebody else to do the heavy lifting, or you simply don't think you can do it, then hiring a patent attorney might be your best option.
Ironically, if you were to hire me, I would include access to this course and ask you to go through this course anyway. Why would I do that? Here are the top reasons:
- The PRO-APP™ Workshop answers the questions I've already answered thousands of times before for other inventors
- The PRO-APP™ Workshop helps inventors understand the expectations, timelines, costs, and critical decisions inherent in the patent process
- The PRO-APP™ Workshop empowers inventors to contribute to the patent process, resulting in a more cohesive collaboration between technical and legal processes
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What is Included in the PRO-APP™ FULL Workshop?
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Inventorship, foreign filing, patent pitfalls, typical costs, and so much more. There is more to understanding patents than simply filling out a basic application template. Get introduced to topics that go beyond the basics and give you a head start on your patent experience.
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Module 1: Define Your Invention
The first step to drafting your provisional patent application is to properly identify your invention. Get access to a comprehensive "Innovation Disclosure Form" used with sophisticated global innovative companies. Describing your invention is much more than simply providing a couple of drawings and a descriptive paragraph, but that's a great start.
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Module 2: Illustrate Your Invention with Patent Drawings
Starting with your own invention drawings, learn to create patent drawings that will expand the scope of your provisional patent application and help you think about your invention from new perspectives, without getting caught up in unnecessary formalities.
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Module 3: Describe Your Invention
The specification for your provisional patent application is centered around your invention. But it doesn't have to be limited to a single "embodiment" or version of your invention. Learn how to expand on your original concepts to capture greater scope, value, and advantage during future examination with the patent office.
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Module 4: Claim Your Invention
Although patent claims are not required for a provisional patent application, learn the basics of independent and dependent claims. Also learn why it might be beneficial to include some claims in your application.
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Module 5: File Your Provisional Patent Application
Throughout the workshop, we maintain focus on the true objective--to get your invention "patent pending"--so you can pursue your innovation dreams. We set milestones within the workshop that allow you to stop and file your provisional patent application when it makes sense for you. At each milestone your application is complete and ready to file, even though each additional milestone will result in a better application.
PRO-APP™
FULL Workshop
FULL Workshop
Workshop Objective:
"Patent Pending"
"Patent Pending"
16 hours
5 Full Modules
1. Define
2. Illustrate
3. Describe
4. Claim
5. File
1. Define
2. Illustrate
3. Describe
4. Claim
5. File
PRO-APP™
FAST Workshop
FAST Workshop
Workshop Objective:
"Patent Pending"
"Patent Pending"
8 hours
5 Short Modules
1. Define
2. Illustrate
3. Describe
4. Claim
5. File
1. Define
2. Illustrate
3. Describe
4. Claim
5. File
PRO-APP™
FILE Workshop
FILE Workshop
Workshop Objective:
"Patent Pending"
2 hours
2 Short Modules
1. Define
5. File
1. Define
5. File
(Modules 2-4 excluded)
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*RISK-FREE GUARANTEE*
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The PRO-APP™ Patent Workshops will empower you with confidence in your innovation journey.
Tell us if you don't feel empowered after finishing a workshop, and we'll refund your full payment.
What is a
Provisional Patent Application?
Provisional Patent Application?
It is a temporary placeholder
The patent office is like a busy store with extremely long lines. A PPA is like sending your best friend to wait in line while you shop. When you're ready to check out, you get to join your friend in the line, with the benefit that they got in line before everyone else that came into the store after you. The PPA is your place in line. The checkout is when you decide whether or not to file a non-provisional patent application based on your PPA. Just don't wait until the store closes, because your place in line will expire--if you don't use your PPA within 1 year, then it will expire and you cannot rely on it anymore.
In general, your PPA is not examined. Your PPA is not searched. The content of your PPA is not reviewed. Your PPA is not published. Your PPA cannot be extended or renewed beyond 1 year. But since your PPA is a legal document sitting with the federal government, there are a bunch of nuances and potential exceptions to these statements that we go over in the workshop.
In general, your PPA is not examined. Your PPA is not searched. The content of your PPA is not reviewed. Your PPA is not published. Your PPA cannot be extended or renewed beyond 1 year. But since your PPA is a legal document sitting with the federal government, there are a bunch of nuances and potential exceptions to these statements that we go over in the workshop.
It is the technical description of your invention
You get credit for all the technical details that are fully described (and shown, if necessary) in your PPA when it is filed. You cannot amend it to add more technical information. However, you can file more than one PPA on different aspects of the same invention, then "bundle" the PPAs together into a single non-provisional patent application later on before examination.
It is your "onramp" to exploring business viability
Filing a PPA is usually the very first step an inventor takes to explore whether or not the invention is "a good idea." A PPA by itself cannot be used to stop infringers or copycats, but opens the door so inventors can more confidently proceed with typical business model and market validation processes, including talking to potential customers, manufacturers, distributors, and even investors.
It is the legal boundary of your invention
You can seek exclusive legal rights in a non-provisional patent application based on the technical details, combinations, and permutations you describe in your PPA. Your PPA only protects you for what you include. Nothing else. Even if you thought it was logical to assume all the permutations would be covered because you mentioned one or two of them. They will not receive legal protection, unless you describe them in sufficient detail in your PPA.
It is not a "pitfall" if you understand what it protects
Sometimes you hear people warn about the "pitfalls" of PPAs. Let's be clear, filing a PPA will not hurt you, as long as you include specific descriptions for the inventions (and details) you want to protect. Rather, the "pitfall" is being misinformed and thinking that you can get protection for your invention without describing it fully in your PPA.
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You're an Innovator
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You're wired a little different from normal people. And that's okay. It allows you to create something nobody has ever created before. It allows you to test your ideas, instead of just take things for granted. This innovative approach is precisely what allows society to advance faster toward better and more fulfilling lifestyles.
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Five Common Traits of Innovators:
- You have high memory capacity. You can handle multiple tasks, and switching between tasks, in short periods of time. This leads to out-of-the-box thinking and cross-linked solutions.
- You have low cognitive inhibition. You don't let "normal" expectations prevent you from thinking or talking about unconventional or seemingly random things.
- You achieve immersive flow in activities that interest you. You can get lost in these activities without thinking about how much time has passed.
- You enjoy working off-hours. Early morning or lat nights are typical because you feel more creative during these periods.
- You actively test nonconformity with rules and expectations. You enjoy the experimenting just to "see what will happen" as a way to test new theories or maybe just disrupt expectations.
You're Driven to Action
As an innovator, you're engaged and positioned to take action. You're fortunate to have fewer inhibitions about "the unknown" so you can adapt and take advantage of new perspectives.
The truth is, you love to learn, and there's no better way to learn something than to do it yourself. Sure, you could hire someone to help you with a project or experiment. But you would rather try it out yourself because you know that's how you'll learn the most. That's also how you'll be able to improve each and every time you run a new test, build a new prototype, or repeat an old task in a new way.
We all have a little fear inside us. Nobody is 100% sure 100% of the time, especially innovators who fundamentally believe each experience illuminates new learning. Fortunately, fear doesn't stop true innovators. Innovators appreciate knowledge gaps as opportunities to learn, improve, and even create.
So how will you use your innovative character to advance to the next level? What innovations await the master touch of your eager mind?
Join our community of innovators who are driven to Innovate With Confidence and share with each other on our Facebook group.
The truth is, you love to learn, and there's no better way to learn something than to do it yourself. Sure, you could hire someone to help you with a project or experiment. But you would rather try it out yourself because you know that's how you'll learn the most. That's also how you'll be able to improve each and every time you run a new test, build a new prototype, or repeat an old task in a new way.
We all have a little fear inside us. Nobody is 100% sure 100% of the time, especially innovators who fundamentally believe each experience illuminates new learning. Fortunately, fear doesn't stop true innovators. Innovators appreciate knowledge gaps as opportunities to learn, improve, and even create.
So how will you use your innovative character to advance to the next level? What innovations await the master touch of your eager mind?
Join our community of innovators who are driven to Innovate With Confidence and share with each other on our Facebook group.
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Who should attend this workshop?
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- Inventors pursuing a lifelong dream
- Startup Innovators creating pioneering technology
- Technology Enthusiasts who want to efficiently reserve their IP rights
- Established Inventors ready to dominate the patent process
- Entrepreneurs and "Mompreneurs" seeking social impact
- Corporate Legal Departments looking to streamline invention disclosures
- In-House IP Counsel who need to minimize outside counsel costs
- Professors and Academics working on cutting-edge technology
- Researchers establishing groundwork for future industries
- Founders ready to take the big leap into technology commercialization
- Investors who need to protect their investments
- You!
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About Jeff Holman
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The PRO-APP™ team is led by Jeff Holman, an experienced patent attorney who has drafted, filed, and managed thousands of patent assets globally, including his own patents which have been successfully licensed.
Jeff is an industry leader in corporate IP strategy with a focus on patent quality, the innovation process, and the success of innovators and their technology.
Jeff advises several startup ventures that have achieved hundreds of millions in funding, built global patent portfolios spanning six continents, reached valuations well over $500MM, and successfully negotiated deals with "Shark Tank" investors.
Jeff fundamentally believes most innovators achieve the best technical insight and highest quality with a DIY approach following expert guidance using the PRO-APP™ framework.
Jeff is an industry leader in corporate IP strategy with a focus on patent quality, the innovation process, and the success of innovators and their technology.
Jeff advises several startup ventures that have achieved hundreds of millions in funding, built global patent portfolios spanning six continents, reached valuations well over $500MM, and successfully negotiated deals with "Shark Tank" investors.
Jeff fundamentally believes most innovators achieve the best technical insight and highest quality with a DIY approach following expert guidance using the PRO-APP™ framework.
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Platinum Sponsorship
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"PRO-APP", "DIY PATENT PENDING", logos, and workshop names are intellectual property of Intellectual Strategies