Quick reference
The Patent Cheat Sheet
The whole patent system on one page — the requirements, the types, the deadlines, the costs, the key terms, and the mistakes that cost people their rights. Bookmark it. Each block links to the full guide.
A quick reference, not legal advice. Figures are approximate (US); confirm specifics before relying on them.
The 4 requirements
§101 EligibleNot an abstract idea, law of nature, or natural phenomenon (Alice/Mayo).
§102 NovelNew — not already disclosed in the prior art.
§103 Non-obviousNot an obvious step for a skilled person (Graham/KSR).
§112 DescribedWritten description, enablement, definite claims.
The requirements, in depth →The 3 patent types
UtilityHow it works. 20 years from filing. Maintenance fees.
DesignHow it looks (ornamental). 15 years from grant. No maintenance fees.
PlantNew asexually-reproduced variety. 20 years. No maintenance fees.
All patent types →The 4 IP types
PatentHow an invention works. 20 yrs, then public domain.
TrademarkA brand identifier. Potentially forever, with use.
CopyrightCreative expression / code. Life + 70 yrs. Automatic.
Trade secretConfidential info. Forever — until it leaks or is reverse-engineered.
All four, compared →Key deadlines
US grace period12 months from YOUR OWN disclosure to file. None abroad — file first.
ProvisionalExpires in 12 months; file the non-provisional before then.
PCTFile within 12 mo of priority; national phase by 30 months.
MaintenancePay at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after grant (utility).
The full timeline →Rough costs (US)
ProvisionalA few hundred (DIY) to a few thousand (attorney-drafted).
Utility (total)~$8,000–$20,000+ with attorney, over its life.
Entity discountSmall entity −50%; micro entity −75% on USPTO fees.
EnforcementLitigation $1–5M+ per side; IPR ~$35k–100k.
What a patent really costs →Claim transition words
comprisingOPEN — has all listed elements plus anything else. Broadest.
consisting ofCLOSED — exactly these elements, nothing more. Narrowest.
consisting essentially ofMIDDLE — listed elements plus what doesn't materially change them.
Every claim term decoded →The rights-destroying don'ts
Don't discloseNo public demo / paper / launch before filing — fatal abroad.
Watch on-saleOffering it for sale >1 yr before filing bars the patent (US).
Name inventors rightWrong/missing inventors can make the patent unenforceable.
Avoid employer kitBuilding on a day-job laptop can hand ownership to your employer.
All the application-killers →The process, in one line
Search prior art → file (provisional, then non-provisional) → publication at 18 mo → office actions → respond/amend → allowance → pay issue fee → grant → mark products → pay maintenance fees → enforce.
Work through it as a checklist →