WHAT IS NOT PATENTABLE

An inventor cannot receive a patent for perpetual motion devices, abstract ideas, laws of nature, and naturally occurring substances. An inventor cannot receive a United States patent for an invention publicly disclosed more than 12 months ago.

Public disclosure includes any sale, exhibit at trade show, or printed in a publication, with a few exceptions. You should seek a Patent Attorney’s opinion if you have any questions whether your invention is patentable. It should also be noted that you do not need a prototype when seeking patent protection – you only need to be able to describe the invention in sufficient detail so that one skilled in the art could construct your invention.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This web site provides general information only, not legal advice. You should not act upon this information without independent legal counsel. You must read and agree to the Terms of Service before viewing this web site. The NIFC is not associated with any Federal or State government agency. If you have been harmed by an invention marketing company or patent attorney, you should immediately seek the legal assistance of a reputable attorney licensed in your state. Michael S. Neustel is licensed to practice law only in North Dakota and in the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Michael S. Neustel is the owner of Neustel Law Offices, LTD and Neustel Software, Inc. Statements made in this web site are merely opinions of the National Inventor Fraud Center, Inc. and should not be interpreted as factual. Neither Michael S. Neustel nor the NIFC market inventions, provide market analyses or provide marketability analyses for inventors. You are strongly encouraged to investigate any company or law firm you plan to work with and do not rely solely upon this web site when selecting a company to work with. Only you can determine if the companies listed on this web site are reputable or not.