Patent FAQs

The process for obtaining a patent involves a series of complex legal procedures which typically raise a number of complex issues along the way. Not all of these can be addressed here; however, we have provided some brief answers to the more common questions below. Cameron Intellectual Property is here to simplify and guide you through the process at all stages. Contact us if you would like to find out more.

Is My Idea “inventive enough” to Obtain Patent Protection?

As well as being new, your product or process must be more than an obvious modification of what has already been done. From our experience, inventors sometimes hastily decide not to protect their idea because they do not think it is “inventive enough”; however, we would strongly suggest you contact us for our advice on this. We provide informed advice on whether the idea is likely to be inventive enough to warrant protection; and you may be surprised with the outcome. For example, Post-it ® Notes probably didn’t seem particularly ground breaking to the inventor at the time since other sticky pieces of paper were around; however, the resulting re-usability made these one of the most successful inventions of the 20th century!

Can a concept be Patented in Addition to a Physical Product?

Yes, so long as the concept is new and inventive too. This is exactly the sort of thing patents can be used to protect.

Can I File a Patent Application Myself or Must I Use a Patent Attorney?

It is possible to file a patent application yourself; however, the procedure is complex and it is very easy to irreparably “shoot yourself in the foot”. It is highly recommended that you use a firm of Chartered Patent Attorneys, such as ourselves, if you don’t want to risk irretrievably losing those rights.

Can I file a worldwide patent?

There is no such thing as a “worldwide patent”. Generally speaking, it is necessary to file individual patent applications in each country of interest; however, the cost of this can be deferred by filing an initial UK application and then filing foreign applications within 12 months. There are also certain centralized procedures which are useful if you wish to protect the invention in several countries; ask us about the International (PCT) Application and European Patent Application procedures if you wish to find out more about this.

How much does it cost?

Cameron Intellectual Property’s prices are competitive. Many stages of the procedure are time based and so the eventual costs will be based upon the complexity of the matters involved and the corresponding amount of professional time spent dealing with those matters. Contact us now to obtain a personalised cost estimate or ask about our fixed fee filing packages.

How long does the process take?

We can usually draft and file a new patent application within a week or two of receiving the required information from you (this may take slightly longer if the invention is complex and / or you would like several different versions of the invention covered). Once the application has been filed, the application process can typically take up to four years to reach grant.  This may seem like a very long time; however, the process can be accelerated if required. Frequently, it is preferable not to accelerate the procedure for various reasons; however, we can advise you on this.